Answer to Question #246149 in Molecular Physics | Thermodynamics for Kelani

Question

The dung beetle is known as one of the strongest animals for its size, often forming balls of dung up to 10 times their own mass and rolling them to locations where they can be buried and stored as food. A typical dung ball formed by the species K. nigroaeneus has a radius of 1.85 cm and is rolled by the beetle at 6.20 cm/s.

(a) What is the rolling ball's angular speed (in rad/s)?

__ rad/s

(b) How many full revolutions are required if the beetle rolls the ball a distance of 1.35 m?

__ rev

Answer 1

Solution;

Given;

r=1.85cm

v=6.20cm/s

l=1.35m

(a)

The linear velocity of the dung ball is given as follows;

$v=rw$

Rearrange as follows;

$w=\frac{v}{r}$

Substitute the values;

$w=\frac{6.20}{1.85}=3.351rad/s$

(b)

Number od revolutions made by the dung is given as follows;

$N=\frac{l}{2πr}$

$N=\frac{1.35}{2×π×0.0185}$

$N=11.614$ revolutions