Question

A hornet circles around a pop can at constant speed once per second in a path with a 12-cm diameter. we can conclude that the hornet's wings must push on the air with force components that are

Answer 1

Since hornet is revolving with frequency 1 round per second

Time period of hornet is given by

$T = 1 s$

Also the diameter of the circular path is 12 cm

so here we can say that its constant speed will be given as

$v = \frac{2 \pi r}{T}$

$v = \frac{2\pi * 0.06}{1}$

$v = 0.377 m/s$

now the centripetal acceleration of the hornet is given as

$a_c = \frac{v^2}{R}$

$a_c = \frac{0.377^2}{0.06}$

$a_c = 2.37 m/s^2$

so it will have its centripetal acceleration towards the pop as 2.37 m/s^2

so the force on its wing has two components one is towards the pop which will give the hornet centripetal acceleration while other component will counter balance the weight of the hornet