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Melon
Lv 4
Melon asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 9 years ago

Calculating angular velocity and acceleration of planet Io?

Io information:

Orbital Radius: 42180 km (42180000 m)

Radius: 1821 km (1821000 m)

Year: 11.84 days (1022976 s)

Length of Day: 9 hr 50 min (35400 s)

What is the angular velocity of Io? And what is the angular acceleration needed to stop Io from spinning in 10 earth years [exclude leap years, use just 365 days].

Please show calculations and work. Thanks!

Update:

Ack typo, sorry Io isn't a planet

Update 2:

And also, what is the acceleration due to gravity on Io's surface?

1 Answer

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  • Steve
    Lv 7
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Angular velocity about polar axis of Io:

    w = 2π/T = 2π/35400 = 1.77491E-4 rad/sec

    α = dw/dt = -1.77491E-4/(10*365*24*3600) = -5.6282E-13 rad/sec²

    The orbital angular velocity Ω = 2π/1022976 = 6.142E-6 rad/sec, which when added to w gives w' = 1.836E-4 rad/sec (the w as seen from a great distance). This increases the value of α by a factor of 1.0346. [All this assumes the orbital and rotational angular velocity have the same sign}

    For gi, I had to look up the mass of Io, m = 8.9319E22 kg:

    then,

    gi = G*m/R² = 6.67E-11*8.9319E22/(182100)²

    gi = 1.7966 m/sec²

    This is about what I remember from the last time I was there......

    Source(s): Eqs of SHM and constant acceleration Newton
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