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A baseball (mass 0.14 kg, radius 3.7 cm) is spinning with an angular velocity of 52 rad/s. If the baseball has a linear speed of 42 m/s, what is the ratio of its rotational and translational kinetic energies?

User Sue Mynott
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Final answer:

The ratio of rotational to translational kinetic energies of a baseball with a mass of 0.14 kg, radius of 3.7 cm, spinning with an angular velocity of 52 rad/s, and a linear speed of 42 m/s is approximately 3.98 × 10^-4.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks us to calculate the ratio of rotational and translational kinetic energies of a spinning baseball with a given mass, radius, angular velocity, and linear speed.

The rotational kinetic energy (Krot) can be calculated using the formula

Krot = 1/2 I ω^2,

where I is the moment of inertia and ω is the angular velocity.

The translational kinetic energy (Ktrans) is given by

Ktrans = 1/2 m v^2,

where m is the mass and v is the linear speed.

The moment of inertia for a sphere is

I = 2/5 m r^2,

where r is the radius.

First, we calculate the moment of inertia of the baseball:

I = 2/5 × 0.14 kg × (0.037 m)^2 ≈ 3.64 × 10^-4 kg·m^2.

Next, we find the rotational kinetic energy:

Krot = 1/2 × 3.64 × 10^-4 kg·m^2 × (52 rad/s)^2 ≈ 4.92 × 10^-2 J.

Then, the translational kinetic energy:

Ktrans = 1/2 × 0.14 kg × (42 m/s)^2 ≈ 123.48 J.

The ratio of rotational to translational kinetic energy is:

Krot/Ktrans = 4.92 × 10^-2 J / 123.48 J ≈ 3.98 × 10^-4.

Therefore, the ratio of rotational to translational kinetic energy is approximately 3.98 × 10^-4.

User Ffoeg
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