Flywheel Torque Calculator

| Added in Physics

What is Flywheel Torque and Why Should You Care?

Ever wondered how mechanical energy is stored and released in various engineering applications? Well, that's the magic of flywheels, and specifically, understanding Flywheel Torque. Flywheel Torque, measured in Newton-meters (N-m), is crucial for systems requiring energy storage and smooth power delivery, such as engines, power grids, and even aircraft.

So, why should you care? Knowing how to calculate Flywheel Torque helps in optimizing performance and efficiency, ensuring your system runs like a well-oiled machine.

How to Calculate Flywheel Torque

Calculating Flywheel Torque might sound daunting, but it's as easy as pie once you get the hang of it. Here's the formula:

[T_{fw} = \frac{\text{Flywheel Mass (kg)} \cdot \text{Radius (m)}^2}{2 \cdot \text{Angular Acceleration (rad/s}^2\text{)}}]

Where:

  • Tfw is the Flywheel Torque (N-m)
  • Flywheel Mass (kg) is the mass of the flywheel
  • Radius (m) is the radius of the flywheel
  • Angular Acceleration (rad/sยฒ) is the rate of change of angular velocity

Essentially, you'll multiply the flywheel mass by the radius squared and then divide by 2 times the angular acceleration.

Calculation Example

Let's run through a hypothetical example to nail this down.

Given values:

  • Flywheel Mass: 25 kg
  • Radius: 4 m
  • Angular Acceleration: 3 rad/sยฒ

Now, plug these values into the formula:

[T_{fw} = \frac{25 \cdot 4^2}{2 \cdot 3}]

Simplify that:

[T_{fw} = \frac{25 \cdot 16}{6} = \frac{400}{6} = 66.67 \text{ N-m}]

And there you have it! The Flywheel Torque in this example is 66.67 N-m.

Quick Recap

Parameter Value
Flywheel Mass 25 kg
Radius 4 m
Angular Acceleration 3 rad/sยฒ
Flywheel Torque 66.67 N-m

Frequently Asked Questions

Flywheel torque is the rotational force that causes a flywheel to change its angular velocity, measured in Newton-meters (N-m).

Understanding flywheel torque helps optimize energy storage systems, vehicle performance, and industrial machinery design.

Torque increases with the square of the radius, so larger flywheels can generate more torque for the same mass.

Engines, power grids, electric vehicles, and industrial equipment all rely on flywheel torque for energy storage and smooth power delivery.