What is the angular speed of the second hand on a clock that measures seconds?

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Get ready for the UCF PSC1121 Physical Science Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Boost your exam readiness with our resources!

To determine the angular speed of the second hand on a clock, we first need to understand the motion of the second hand. The second hand of a clock completes one full revolution around the clock face in 60 seconds. Since one complete revolution corresponds to an angle of 360 degrees, we can calculate the angular speed by dividing the total degrees by the time taken for one cycle.

The calculation is as follows:

  • Total degrees for one revolution: 360 degrees
  • Time for one revolution: 60 seconds

The angular speed can be calculated by taking the total degrees (360) and dividing by the time in seconds (60):

[ \text{Angular speed} = \frac{360 \text{ degrees}}{60 \text{ seconds}} = 6 \text{ degrees/second} ]

This shows that the angular speed of the second hand is 6 degrees per second, which corresponds to the correct choice. Understanding this concept helps illustrate how rotational movement is quantified and how it relates to time.