The earth moves with (approximately) uniform circular motion about its axis. The
ID: 2134735 • Letter: T
Question
The earth moves with (approximately) uniform circular motion about its axis. The earth's radius = 6,378 kilometers. a) What is the period of the earth's rotation about its axis? b) What is the tangential speed of the earth at the equator as it spins? c) What is the angular velocity of the earth as it spins? d) Is the earth's surface undergoing acceleration as it spins? e) What is the radial acceleration at the equator of the earth in it spins? f) What is the tangential acceleration of the earth at the equator as it spins?
Explanation / Answer
a) T = 24 hours = 24*60*60 = 86400 s
b) v = 2*pi*r/T = 6.28*6378*10^3/86400 = 463.6 m/s
c) w = 2*pi/T = 6.28/86400 = 7.3*10^-5 rad/s
d)yes
e) a_radial = v^2/r = 0.0337 m/s^2
f) a_tan = 0