Question

The minute hand of a clock on a clock tower is 1 meter long. What is the tangential speed at the tip of that hand

Answer 1

ω = θ / t

1 rev = 2 pi rad

t = 60 sec / min * 60 min / hr = 3600 sec / hr

v = ω R tangential speed

v = (2 pi m / hr) / (3600 sec / hr) = .00175 m/sec

As a check

s = 2 pi * 1 m = 6.28 meters around dial

It takes 3600 sec for 1 rotation of the minute hand

v = 6.28 / 3600 = .0017 m/s