It has been suggested that rotating cylinders about 10 mi long and 5.9 mi in diameter be placed in space and used as colonies. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s 2 . What angular speed must such a cylinder have so that the centripetal acceleration at its surface equals the free-fall acceleration on

ω = 0.05 rad/s

Explanation:

We consider the centripetal force acting as the weight force on the surface of the cylinder. Therefore,

where,

ω = angular velocity of cylinder = ?

g = required acceleration = 9.8 m/s²

r = radius of cylinder = diameter/2 = 5.9 mi/2 = 2.95 mi = 4023.36 m

Therefore,

ω = 0.05 rad/s

speed of light in vacuum is 300,000 km/s

speed of light in other mediums is given by the expression v = c/n, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and n is the refractive index of medium.

for the first medium v = 200,000 km/s

  so, refractive index of medium = 300000/200000 = 1.5

    1.5 refractive index is usually for glass. so first medium is glass.

for the second medium v = 250,00 km/s

so, refractive index of medium = 300000/250000 = 1.2

    1.2 refractive index is usually for water. so second medium is water.

for the third medium v = 0 km/s

so, refractive index of medium = 300000/0 = ∞

    ∞ refractive index is usually for opaque mediums. so third medium is opaque medium.