Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles39m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
3. Unit Circle
Defining the Unit Circle
Problem 3.53a
Textbook Question
A thread is being pulled off a spool at the rate of 59.4 cm per sec. Find the radius of the spool if it makes 152 revolutions per min.
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1
Convert the revolutions per minute to revolutions per second by dividing 152 by 60.
Use the formula for the circumference of a circle, \( C = 2\pi r \), where \( r \) is the radius.
Recognize that the length of thread pulled per second is equal to the circumference of the spool times the number of revolutions per second.
Set up the equation: \( 59.4 = 2\pi r \times \text{revolutions per second} \).
Solve for \( r \) by dividing both sides of the equation by \( 2\pi \times \text{revolutions per second} \).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Linear Speed
Linear speed refers to the distance traveled per unit of time. In this context, the thread is being pulled off the spool at a rate of 59.4 cm per second, which indicates how quickly the thread is unwinding. Understanding linear speed is crucial for relating the distance the thread travels to the rotational motion of the spool.
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Circumference of a Circle
The circumference of a circle is the distance around it, calculated using the formula C = 2πr, where r is the radius. This concept is essential for determining how far the spool rotates with each revolution. Knowing the circumference allows us to connect the linear distance of the thread being pulled to the number of revolutions made by the spool.
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Revolutions per Minute (RPM)
Revolutions per minute (RPM) is a measure of the frequency of rotation, indicating how many complete turns an object makes in one minute. In this problem, the spool makes 152 revolutions per minute, which helps us calculate the total distance the thread unwinds in that time frame. This concept is vital for converting rotational motion into linear motion.
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