SEARCH HOME
Math CentralQuandaries & Queries

search

Question from virginia, a student:

The engine of a sports car rotates at 5,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). calculate the angular speed of the engine in radians per second. use 2n radians = 1 revolution

Hi Virginia.

I think you were trying to write 2π radians = 1 revolution.

Angular speed is the amount of angle through which the engine turns in a given amount of time.

In 1 minute, the engine turns around 5000 times, so it has gone 5000 revolutions. Since there are 2π radians in each revolution and 60 seconds in each minute, this is 5000×2π / 60 radians per second.

In unit evaluation method, you would write it this way:

Hope this helps,
Stephen La Rocque.

About Math Central
 

 


Math Central is supported by the University of Regina and The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences.
Quandaries & Queries page Home page University of Regina PIMS