Dr.

Neal, WKU
MATH 117 Angular Velocity vs. Linear Velocity

Given an object with a fixed speed that is moving in a circle with a fixed radius, we can
define the angular velocity ! of the object. That is, we can determine how fast the radian
measure of the angle is changing as the object moves on its circular path.

r v

v = linear speed r
! = angular speed

v =!r

We always use radians as the unit of measure when working with angular velocity.
For instance, our angular velocities should be in units such as (rad) / sec or (rad) / hr .
However sometimes we will give the result in other layman’s terms, such as revolutions
per minute or degrees per second, so as to give a better understanding of how fast the angle
is moving.
But in order to do calculations with angular velocity, we always must use radians.
(rad)
Note though that radians will be an “invisible” unit. For example the units ! ft
sec
will yield ft/sec.

Relationship Between Angular Velocity ! and Linear Velocity v

Given a fixed speed v and radius r , then

v 2"
v = !r != !=
r time of 1 rev.

Example 1. A cylinder with a 2.5 ft radius is rotating at 120 rpm.

(a) Give the angular velocity in rad/sec and in degrees per second.
(b) Find the linear velocity of a point on its rim in mph.

Solution. (a) To convert rpm (revolutions per minute) to radians per second, we first
note that there are 2! radians per revolution. We then have
 Dr. Neal, WKU

rev rev rad 1 min rad

120 = 120 ! 2" ! = 4" .
min min rev 60 sec sec
rad rad 180 deg
Them we have 4! = 4! " = 720º per sec .
sec sec ! rad

(b) We use v = ! r , but we must be in the correct units. The angular velocity must use
radians. Thus, the linear velocity is then

rad ft
4! " 2.5 ft = 10! .
sec sec

Converting to mph, we obtain

ft ft sec 1 mile
10! = 10! " 3600 " ≈ 21.42 mph.
sec sec hr 5280 ft

Example 2. A tire with a 9 inch radius is rotating at 30 mph. Find the angular velocity
of a point on its rim. Also express the result in revolutions per minute.

Solution. We simply use ! = v / r , but we must make sure that v and r have matching
length units. Here we shall use miles in order to put ! in (rad)/hr.

1 " miles 1 % in ft (rad)

! =v ! = $$ 30 ! '' ! 12 ! 5280 = 211,200 .
r # hr 9 in & ft mile hr

1
Note that the units actually come out as ; however, radians are a suppressed unit
hr
with regards to angular velocity. So we write (rad) / hr .

How many revolutions per minute are there with this spinning tire? Because one
revolution is 2π radians, we have

(rad) (rad) 1 rev 1 hr

211,200 = 211,200 ! ! ≈ 560.225 rpm.
hr hr 2! rad 60 min

Planetary Equatorial Velocities

We also can find the angular velocity and the linear velocity at the equator of a planet
given that we know the radius of the planet r and the time that it takes for the planet to
! !
make one ( 360 ) rotation on its axis. (Note: One 360 rotation on the axis is not the
same as the actual length of a day due to the planet’s orbital movement relative to the
Sun.)
 Dr. Neal, WKU

Planetary Data

Planet Rad /Earth's Mass/Earth's Grav/Earth's Rotation

Mercury 0.3824 0.0553 0.378 58.646 days
Venus 0.9489 0.8150 0.894 243.01 days
Earth 1 1 1 23h 56m 4.1s
(Moon) 0.272399 0.0123 0.1653 27.32166 days
Mars 0.532036 0.1074 0.379 24h 37m 22.662s
Jupiter 11.194173 317.89 2.54 9h 50m
Saturn 9.407131 95.17 1.07 10h 39.9m
Uranus 4.0875553 14.56 0.8 17h 14m
Neptune 3.8826366 17.15 1.2 16h 3m
Pluto 0.1803 0.002 0.01 6d 9h 17m

Radius of Earth ≈ 6378.140 km = 6,378,140 m ≈ 3963.2 miles

Mass of Earth ≈ 5.974383 ! 1024 kg
(Average) Gravity on Earth ≈ 9.80665 m/s2 ≈ 32.174 ft/s2.
1 Earth Day ≈ 24 hours

1000 m 3.28084 ft 1 mile 1.609344 km

Conversions: , , ,
1 km 1 m 5280 ft 1 mile

Example 3. The radius of Earth is approximately 3963.2 miles. It takes 23h 56m 4.1s for
the Earth to rotate once on its axis. (a) Find the angular velocity and linear velocity at
the equator. (b) Find the linear velocity at 50º N latitude.

2"
Solution. (a) We now shall use ! = . The angular velocity of Earth’s spin
time of 1 rev.
2! (rad)
is then given by ! = ≈ 0.262516 .
" 56 4.1 % hr
$ 23 + + ' hr
# 60 3600 &

360!
We also could say ! = ≈ 15.041º per hour.
! 56 4.1 $
# 23 + + & hr
" 60 3600 %

!
(Note that it takes just under 24 hours to rotate 360 , so every hour the Earth must
!
rotate a little more than 1/24 th of a circle, or just over 15 .)

The linear velocity of Earth’ spin at the equator is about

(rad)
v = ! r ≈ 0.262516 ! 3963.2 miles ≈ 1040.4 mph.
hr
 Dr. Neal, WKU

(b) At 50º N latitude, the angular velocity is the same, but the radius is smaller. (Recall:
r = 3963.2 cos(50º ) at 50º N). So the linear velocity at 50º N is now only

(rad)
0.262516 ! 3963.2 cos(50º ) miles ≈ 668.76 mph.
hr

Example 4. Jupiter rotates in approximately 9h 50m. Its radius is 11.194173 times that
of Earth’s. Find the linear velocity at the equator of Jupiter.

Solution. We again use v = ! r to obtain

2!
v=!r = ! (11.194173 ! 3963.2 miles) ≈ 28,347.65 mph.
(9 + 50 / 60) hr

Exercises

1. A cylinder with a 2 ft radius is spinning at 450 rpm. (a) Find its angular velocity in
degrees per sec. (b) Find the linear speed on the rim in mph.

2. If a cylinder with a 6 in. radius is spinning at 24 mph, find the angular velocity in
rpm of a point on its rim.

3. (a) What is the radius of the circle at 28! 15! N latitude?

(b) Find the linear velocity of the Earth’s rotation at 28! 15! N.

(c) Find the distance between points at the following coordinates:

28! 15! N, 76! 08! E and 28! 15! N, 53! 44 ! E.

4. The radius of Mars is 0.532036 times that of Earth. One rotation on its axis takes
about 24 hr, 37 min, 22.662 sec. Find the linear speed of its equatorial spin.
 Dr. Neal, WKU

Solutions

rev 2# (rad) rad

1. (a) First, ! = 450 " = 900# . Converting to deg per sec, we have
min rev min
rad 1 min 180 deg
! = 900" # # = 2700º per sec .
min 60 sec " rad

rad min 1 mile

(b) v = ! r = 900! ! 2 ft ! 60 ! ≈ 64.26 mph.
min hr 5280 ft

2. Because 6 in. = 0.5 feet, we have

1 " miles 1 % ft (rad)

! =v ! = $$ 24 ! '' ! 5280 = 253,440 .
r # hr 0.5 ft & mile hr

(rad) 1 rev 1 hr
Then 253,440 ! ! ≈ 672.27 rpm.
hr 2! rad 60 min

3. (a) The radius is r ≈ 3963.2 cos(28.25! ) ≈ 3491.146 miles.

2!
(b) The linear velocity is v = ! r = ! 3491.146 miles ≈ 916.48 mph.
" 56 4.1 %
$ 23 + + '
# 60 3600 &

(c) We first find the angle between 76! 08! E and 53! 44 ! E which is given by 75! 68! –
!
53! 44 ! = 22! 24! = 22.4 . The distance between the points is then s = ! r =
"
22.4! ! ! 3491.146 ≈ 1364.8766 miles.
180

2! (rad)
4. v = ! r = ( 0.532036 ( 3963.2 miles ≈ 538.05 mph.
" 37 22.662 %
$ 24 + + ' hr
# 60 3600 &