Question

A drag racer goes around a 180° degree circular curve in a racetrack in a path of radius 120 m. Its front and back wheels have different diameters. The front wheels are 0.6 m in diameter. The rear wheels are much larger; they have a diameter of 1.8 m. The axles of both wheels are 2 m long. Which wheel has more rotations going around the curve? How many more degrees does the front wheel rotate compared to the back wheel?

Answer 1

The first thing I'm noticing about this question is that it shows the importance of the concept of radius.

Answer 2

drag racers belong on a straight track...

so which well is rotating faster, the tiny one or the big one?

Answer 3

wheel

Answer 4

Haha. That's a very good point. I'll have to point that out to the editors. (I know their email address.)

Did you catch what I was thinking about radius?

Answer 5

i forget how to calculate angular velocity, but look it up it will all become clear.

If by concept of radius you mean the wheels and not the track, then I agree. Putting a curve in the track adds the variable of the outer wheels rotating faster than the inner wheels, but I don't think your question is going there.

Answer 6

but yes, a difference in wheel radius is the whole reason for them rotating at different rates.

Answer 7

No. I was thinking about the track. Here's why. This is a "toy" problem, or an ideal problem. There wouldn't be a vehicle that could go around that track in a perfectly circular course.

Answer 8

Is it okay with you if we chat about the concepts?

Answer 9

So, they make it an ideal situation by claiming that it is 120m in radius.

Answer 10

if all 4 wheels were same diameter and the car was on a left turning track, both left wheels would spin equally but slower than the right wheels (which spin at same rate as each other).
By using different front and rear tire sizes, all 4 wheels are turning at a different rate while performing a turn on the track. Wild.