As asked by a six year old.
2006-06-13 00:46:55 · 16 answers · asked by gnalawode 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Many thanks for all the answers. My son now wants to compare van, car, bicycle and scooter tires. Thanks for the formula on how to calculate the number of revolutions. Let's hope he is satisfied after this. I don't want to spend my entire summer calculating the number of revolutions everything with tires would make depending on the distance. Many thanks once again.
2006-06-14 00:36:57 · update #1
That all depends on the diameter of the wheels, and not on the speed of the car.
The circumference of a wheel is given by c = 2(pi)r, which is 2 times pi times the radius.
All you have to do is find out how many times the circumference of the wheel goes into one mile, which is given by,
1 mile divided by 2(pi)r
For example, let's say the radius of the tire is 3 feet, and there are 5,280 feet in a mile, so you have:
5280/(2(pi)3) = 280 (approximately)
Because the radius of the tire is in the denominator of the equation we just used, you can say there is an inverse relationship between the number of revolutions and the radius. This means, as the radius of the tire increases, the number of revolutions made decreases.
In fact, you could take it to the extreme, where the radius of the tire was about 840.34 feet, which would make the circumference of the tire equal to one mile. In that instance, the revolutions would be equal to one.
2006-06-13 00:57:13 · answer #1 · answered by phyziczteacher 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a tape measure and measure the circumference of the tyre in inches (e.g. 75 inches). 1 mile = 63 360 inch, so divide 63360 by the circumference of the tyre. 63 360/75=844.8. So the tyre would make 844 complete revolutions in 1 mile.
The speed doesn't really matter except that at higher speed centrifugal force increases the circumference of the tyre slightly and hence slightly fewer revolutions of the tyre would be required to cover the distance.
2006-06-13 07:59:01 · answer #2 · answered by uselessadvice 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the size of the wheel itself. Taller , bigger wheels will take less revolutions , smaller wheels will take more. To figure this out , use the formula for the circumference of a circle , convert to feet and divide this into 5,280 (length of a mile) and this will give you the ideal number of revolutions.
2006-06-13 07:57:47 · answer #3 · answered by Chopper Larry 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the size of the wheel. An algebraic formula with tire circumference and speed and distance to solve the problem. But it totally depends on the size of the wheel.
Oh yes, speed wouldnt matter unless you were timing it.
2006-06-13 07:50:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
10 miles divided by the circumference of the wheels will tell you the number of revolutions. The round down to the nearest whole number to get the number of revolutions.
2006-06-13 07:50:51 · answer #5 · answered by Mike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's a six year old girl, then it depends on how big the tires are on Barbies new vette.
If it's a six year old boy....., go with Monster trucks.
I have a six year old girl so the vette, a soft measuring tape, and a calculator worked for us.
2006-06-13 18:01:55 · answer #6 · answered by dad2_3girls 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what size wheels? one revolution of a ten inch diameter wheel travels a lot less distance than a revolution of a 20 inch wheel.
2006-06-13 07:49:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on the size of the tire. A six year old? That is one inquisitive child!
2006-06-13 07:49:48 · answer #8 · answered by mopargrapeape 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it doesn't matter how fast the car is going. it only matters what the circumference of the wheel is.
the formula is:
(one mile expressed in inches) divided by (circumference of the wheel expressed in inches)
2006-06-13 07:51:26 · answer #9 · answered by superspongeseven 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how Big the wheels are.
2006-06-13 07:49:17 · answer #10 · answered by cat rat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋