A flywheel is a solid disk that rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to t

Question

A flywheel is a solid disk that rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the disk at its center. Rotating flywheels provide a means for storing energy in the form of rotational kinetic energy and are being considered as a possible alternative to batteries in electric cars. The gasoline burned in a 440-mile trip in a typical midsize car produces about 2.97 x 109 J of energy. How fast would a 17.2-kg flywheel with a radius of 0.207 m have to rotate to store this much energy? Give your answer in rev/min.

Explanation / Answer

rotational energy = 0.5 * I * w^2

0.5 * 17.2*0.207^2 / 2 * w^2 = 2.97*10^9

w= 126961.969679 rad/s

= 1212397.5049311374 rev/min

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