I have undertaken a project where I need to design a brake system for a miniature locomotive. To test the effective of the brakes I have decided to create a rig where the brake system is attached to a flywheel which is spun to a certain angular speed in order to simulate the momentum of the locomotive as if it was on a track. I don't have a track available which is why I am doing this.
The mass of the locomotive is 800KG and assumed to be travelling at a const velocity of 4.2 m/s therefore will possess a linear momentum of 3,360 kg.m/s and a linear kinetic energy of 7065J.
I would like to simulate this momentum in the form of a flywheel, in order to determine its dimensions I need to know how much angular momentum the flywheel needs.
I am not sure how I can correctly mathematically/physically be able to "convert" linear momentum into angular momentum. I know that these two quantities are independent which is why I am asking this question.
Where I have ended up so far:
The energy in an object has two components: linear K.E. (El) and rotation K.E.(Er) Et = El + Er
El = 0.5*m*(v^2) , Er = 0.5*I*w^2, Et = total energy where, 'v' is linear velocity, 'w' is angular speed and 'I' is moment if inertia.
If I assume the locomotive only has linear component: 7065J and I assume that the flywheel only has rotation component - can I assume it to have 7065J of energy.
I question myself whether a linear joule is the same as rotational joule.
Any comment is helpful - i can work on from a hint