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Rotational Equations of Motion

The document discusses rotational motion. It defines rotational quantities like angular displacement (θ), angular velocity (ω), and angular acceleration (α). It explains that as a rigid body rotates, every particle on the body experiences the same θ, ω, and α, describing the rotational motion of the entire body. Finally, it shows the rotational equations of motion are analogous to the linear equations, with θ, ω, and α replacing x, v, and a respectively.

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john mes
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43 views2 pages

Rotational Equations of Motion

The document discusses rotational motion. It defines rotational quantities like angular displacement (θ), angular velocity (ω), and angular acceleration (α). It explains that as a rigid body rotates, every particle on the body experiences the same θ, ω, and α, describing the rotational motion of the entire body. Finally, it shows the rotational equations of motion are analogous to the linear equations, with θ, ω, and α replacing x, v, and a respectively.

Uploaded by

john mes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ROTATIONAL MOTION

Consider a rigid body rotating CCW about a fixed axis of rotation. Let’s look at the motion of a particle
located at point P a distance ‘r’ from the axis of rotation.

As the body rotates the particle moves in a circular path of radius ‘r’. The distance the particle moves
along this path is related to its angular position ‘θ’ by the equation:

s =rθ

Now consider the motion of the particle between two points A and B.
Y

B(tf) , f

r
f
A(ti),

O X

f i
Angular Displacement

f i Average Angular Velocity


ave
tf ti t

d
lim Instantaneous Angular Velocity
t 0 t dt

If the angular velocity changes from ωi to ωf in a time Δt = tf – ti , then the particle experiences an angular
acceleration:

ave
f i
Average Angular Acceleration
tf ti t

d
lim Instantaneous Angular Acceleration
x 0 t dt
For a body rotating about a fixed axis, every particle on the body has the same rotational quantities Δθ,
ω, and α. That is Δθ, ω, and α describe the rotational motion of the entire body.

Units

[θ] = radians
-1
[ω] = rad/s = s
2 -2
[α] = rad/s = s

 ω and α are vector quantities (θ is not a vector because it fails to satisfy the laws of vector
addition)
 The direction of is given by the Right-Hand Rule (RHR) and the direction of follows from its
definition d
dt

RHR – Wrap your four right-hand fingers in the direction of rotation. Your extended thumb points in
the direction of .

SPEEDING UP

SLOWING DOWN

Mathematically, we have defined the rotational quantities θ, ω, and α similar to how we defined the linear
quantities x, v, and a for linear motion. Therefore, the rotational equations of motion with constant
angular acceleration, should also be similar.

Linear Motion Rotational Motion


x θ
v ω
t α
1 2 1 2
x xo vot at o o t t
2 2
v vo at o t
2 2 2 2
v vo 2a( x xo ) o 2 ( o )
vo v o
x xo t o t
2 2

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