The tangential velocity of a rotating wheel refers to the linear velocity of a point on the edge or rim of the wheel as it rotates. It represents the speed at which that point is moving along a tangent to the circular path.
The tangential velocity can be calculated using the formula:
v = r * ω
where:
- v is the tangential velocity,
- r is the radius of the wheel (distance from the center to the point on the rim), and
- ω (omega) is the angular velocity of the wheel.
The angular velocity, ω, represents the rate at which the wheel rotates and is typically measured in radians per second (rad/s). It is equal to the change in angular displacement per unit of time.
By multiplying the radius of the wheel by the angular velocity, you can find the tangential velocity at any point on the rim. The tangential velocity will be different for points at different distances from the center of the wheel. Points closer to the center will have a lower tangential velocity compared to points on the outer rim.
It's important to note that tangential velocity describes the linear speed of a point on the rim, while angular velocity describes the rotational speed of the wheel as a whole.