Final answer:
The ratio of centripetal accelerations for two coins on a turntable spinning at 33 rpm, with one 2 cm from the center and the other 8 cm from the center, is 16.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating the Ratio of Centripetal Accelerations
Centripetal acceleration is given by the formula a = rω², where a is the centripetal acceleration, r is the radius from the center of rotation, and ω is the angular velocity in radians per second. Since both coins are on the same turntable spinning at 33 revolutions per minute (rpm), they share the same angular velocity. The conversion from rpm to radians per second is necessary to use ω in the centripetal acceleration formula.
To compare accelerations a2/a1, we only need to compare the squares of their radius ratios since ω is constant and cancels out:
ω = 33 rev/min * (2π rad/rev) * (1 min/60 s) = 3.49 rad/s
Now, let's calculate the centripetal accelerations:
- For coin 1 at r1 = 2 cm: a1 = r1ω²
- For coin 2 at r2 = 8 cm: a2 = r2ω²
The ratio of centripetal accelerations a2/a1 is then:
a2/a1 = (r2/r1)² = (8 cm / 2 cm)² = 4² = 16
Therefore, the ratio of the centripetal accelerations for the two coins is 16.