A hamster runs in it's wheel whose radius is 3 inches. The wheel completes 7.3 revolutions in 6 seconds. What is the linear velocity of the hamster's wheel?

Answer 1

The wheel's rotational speed is 7.3rev's in 6sec. Divide these values to get 1.2rev/sec.

Since the radius is 3in, the distance of 1 revolution is 2πr, or 2π(3in), or just 18.8in per revolution.

Therefore the linear speed at that radius is

1.2rev/sec x 18.8in/rev = 22.6in/sec

Answer 2

At the radius, it is given by

v = ωr

r = 3 inches

ω = 7.3(2π)/6 radians/s

Plug in the numbers and get v in units of inches per second.