Question

Suppose the tip of the minute hand of a clock is two inches from the center of the clock. Determine the distance traveled by the tip of the minute hand if 20 minutes have passed.

How do you set this up? (from the trig section on linear and angular velocity)

Answer 1

1) The minute travels the circumference of a 4 inches circle is 60 minutes:

Circumference = 2πr = 2π(2in) = 4π in
Time = 60 minutes

2) Constant angular velocity => (4π / 60) = (x / 20) => x = 4π / 3 inches

x = 4.19 inches

Answer: 4.19 inches