What is the linear speed of a helicopter rotor blade tip?
Calculation of Linear Speed
Given:
Number of blades: 4
Length of each blade: 3.40 m
Rotation speed: 550 rev/min
Formula used:
Linear speed (v) = radius (r) * angular speed (ω)
Conversion:
550 rev/min * 2π radians/rev = angular speed in radians/min
Convert angular speed to radians/second: (angular speed in radians/min) * (1 min / 60 s)
Calculation:
Angular speed (ω) = 550 * 2π rev/min * (1 min / 60 s) = 18.24 rad/s
Linear speed (v) = 3.40 m * 18.24 rad/s = 360.89 m/s
Therefore, the linear speed of the helicopter rotor blade tip is 360.89 m/s.