Question

A flywheel is a solid disk that rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the disk at its center. Rotating flywheels provide a means for storing energy in the form of rotational kinetic energy and are being considered as a possible alternative to batteries in electric cars. The gasoline burned in a 445-mile trip in a typical midsize car produces about 4.66 x 109 J of energy. How fast would a 19.7-kg flywheel with a radius of 0.351 m have to rotate to store this much energy

Answer 1

Answer:

$8.37*10^5$ rpm

Explanation:

Given that rotational kinetic energy = $4.66*10^9J$

Mass of the fly wheel (m) = 19.7 kg

Radius of the fly wheel (r) = 0.351 m

Moment of inertia (I) = $\frac{1}{2} mr ^2$

Rotational K.E is illustrated as $(K.E)_{rt} = \frac{1}{2} I \omega^2$

$\omega = \sqrt{\frac{2(K.E)_{rt}}{I} }$

$\omega = \sqrt{\frac{2(KE)_{rt}}{1/2 mr^2} }$

$\omega = \sqrt{\frac{4(K.E)_{rt}}{mr^2} }$

$\omega = \sqrt{\frac{4*4.66*10^9J}{19.7kg*(0.351)^2} }$

$\omega = 87636.04$

$\omega = 8.76*10^4 rad/s$

Since 1 rpm = $\frac{2 \pi}{60} rad/s$

$\omega = 8.76*10^4(\frac{60}{2 \pi})$

$\omega = 836518.38$

$\omega = 8.37 *10^5 rpm$