Rotation

So far we have looked at motion in a straight line or curved line- translational motion. We will now consider and describe rotational motion – where an object turns about an axis.

So far we have looked at motion in a straight line or curved line- translational motion. We will now consider and describe rotational motion – where an object turns about an axis. We will start by mentioning some keywords.

1.Angular position 2.Angular displacement 3.Angular velocity 4.Angular acceleration These terms are analogous to their linear equivalents.

Angular position The angular position is an angle measured between a reference line and a fixed direction taken as zero. Reference line

Angular position The angular position θ is: Reference line (radians) s: arc length

Angular displacement The angular displacement gives the change in angular position of a rotating body. t1t1 t2t2 Δθ θ1θ1 θ2θ2 Counter-clockwise rotation is positive displacement.

Angular velocity If an object moves through the angle an angular position of θ 1 to θ 2 the average angular velocity is: t1t1 t2t2 Δθ θ1θ1 θ2θ2 (average angular velocity)

Angular velocity Thus, t1t1 t2t2 Δθ θ1θ1 θ2θ2 (instantaneous angular velocity) Units: rads/s

Angular acceleration Similarly we can definite the angular acceleration as, (instantaneous angular acceleration) (average angular acceleration) Units: rads/s 2

Example The rotation of a wheel about its central axis is given by. Calculate the angular velocity and acceleration.

Example The rotation of a wheel about its central axis is given by. Calculate the angular velocity and acceleration. Sol:

Equations of linear and angular motion MotionFormulaMissing variable Linear v=v 0 + atx-x 0 x-x 0 =v 0 t + 1/2at 2 v v 2 =v a(x-x 0 )t x-x 0 =1/2(v + v 0 )ta x-x 0 =vt - 1/2at 2 v0v0 Angular ω=ω 0 + αtθ-θ0θ-θ0 θ-θ 0 =ω 0 t + 1/2αt 2 ω ω 2 =ω a(θ-θ 0 )t θ-θ 0 =1/2(ω + ω 0 )tα θ-θ 0 =ωt - 1/2αt 2 ω0ω0

Relating linear and angular Recall that linear and angular variables can be related as follows: Position: Speed: (linear velocity)

Relating linear and angular Time: Acceleration:

Relating linear and angular Time: Acceleration: Thus: (tangential acceleration) (radial acceleration)

Example A grindstone having a constant angular acceleration of 0.35rad/s 2 starts from rest with an arbitrary reference line horizontal at angular position. What is the angular displacement of the reference line at t=18s?

Sol: What equation do we use?

Sol:

(starts from rest)

What is the wheel’s angular velocity at t=18s?

Sol:

The Kinetic Energy of Rotation

It is clear that a rotating body has kinetic energy.

However it is not clear how to calculate the KE of the body since (1) the particles making the body move at different velocities, (2) the KE of the body as a whole is zero since the com has a velocity of zero.

The kinetic energy is found by summing the KE of the particles of the body and writing the velocity in terms of the angular velocity (which is the same for all particles).

Moment of inertia

The kinetic energy is found by summing the KE of the particles of the body and writing the velocity in terms of the angular velocity (which is the same for all particles). Moment of inertia

The momentum of inertia (rotational inertia) about some rotational point is the measure of the resistance to a change in the angular acceleration due to the action of a torque. (Moment of Inertia)

The rotational inertia depends not only on the mass of the object but how it is distributed wrt the rotational axis. Axis of rotation (1) (2) Consider the two rods which have identical total mass. Both rods balance at the centre. However rod 2 rotates more freely than rod 1. Rod 1 has a larger moment of inertia than rod 2.

Moment of Inertia of some objects

The moment of inertia for a continuous body is:

If the rotational inertia of a body is known about any axis which passes through its com then the parallel-axis theorem can be used to find the moment of inertia about any parallel axis. (parallel-axis theorem)

Example

Find the rotational inertia about the com of the rigid body consisting of two particles of mass m connected by rod (with negligible mass)of length L. cm mm

Example Find the rotational inertia about the com of the rigid body consisting of two particles of mass m connected by rod (with negligible mass)of length L. cm mm

Example Calculate the rotational inertia about the end of the body. cm mm

Example Consider a thin, uniform rod of mass M and length L. What is the rotational inertia of the rod through its com?

dm x dx Example Consider a thin, uniform rod of mass M and length L. What is the rotational inertia of the rod through its com? Consider an element dm of width dx. The mass of dm is the mass per unit length times the length of dm

dm x dx Example Consider a thin, uniform rod of mass M and length L. What is the rotational inertia of the rod through its com? Consider an element dm of width dx. The mass of dm is the mass per unit length times the length of dm

dm x dx Example Consider a thin, uniform rod of mass M and length L. What is the rotational inertia of the rod through its com? Consider an element dm of width dx. The mass of dm is the mass per unit length times the length of dm

dm x dx Example Consider a thin, uniform rod of mass M and length L. What is the rotational inertia of the rod through its com? Consider an element dm of width dx. The mass of dm is the mass per unit length times the length of dm

Torque

A simple definition of torque is an influence which tends to change the rotational motion of an object. The Torque = Force applied X perpendicular distance from the axis or point of rotation to the line of action of the force. Alt:

Newton’s 2 nd law can be rewritten for a rotating body as: (a t is the tangential acceleration)

Newton’s 2 nd law can be rewritten for a rotating body as: (a t is the tangential acceleration)

Hence we can write that,

Example A uniform disk of mass M=2.5kg and radius R=20cm is mounted on a fixed horizontal axle. A block of mass m=1.2kg hangs from a massless cord that is wrapped around the rim of the disk. Find the acceleration of the falling block, the angular acceleration of the disk and the tension in the cord, assuming that the cord does not slip and there is no friction at the axle.

Sol: Diagram

Sol: Free body diagrams T Mg T

Considering the block: Mg T

Considering the block: Considering the disk: Mg T T

Considering the block: Considering the disk: Mg T T where the torque is negative because it causes a clockwise rotation

Considering the block: Considering the disk: Mg T T

Substituting for T we get, Hence, Finally, Mg T T