A rotating fan completes 1200 revolutions every minute. Consider the tip of a blade, at a radius of 0.15 m. (a) Through what distance does the tip move in one revolution? What are (b) the tip’s speed and (c) the magnitude of its acceleration? (d) What is the period of the motion?

(a) 0.942 m

(b) 18.84 m/s

(c) 2366.3 m/s²

(d) 0.05 s

Explanation:

(a) In one revolution, it travels through one circumference, 2πr = 2 × 3.14 × 0.15 m = 0.942 m.

(b) Its frequency, f, is 1200 rev/min = rev/s = 20 rev/s.

Its angular frequency, ω = 2πf = 2π × 20 = 40π

The speed is given by

v = ωr = 40π × 0.15 = 6π = 18.84 m/s

(c) Its acceleration is given by, a = ω²r = (40π)² × 0.15 = 2366.3 m/s²

(d) The period is the inverse of the frequency because it is the time taken to complete one revolution.

T = 1/20 = 0.05 s