Class Notes on Rotational Motion
Introduction
Rotational motion refers to the motion of an object that spins about an axis. Unlike linear motion,
where an object moves along a straight path, rotational motion involves the movement of all
points of a rigid body in circular paths around a central point or axis. Common examples of
rotational motion include a wheel turning around its axle, the Earth rotating on its axis, or the
blades of a fan spinning.
The study of rotational motion is important in understanding many phenomena in both everyday
life and advanced scientific applications, such as machinery, engineering, and astronomy.
Key Concepts
1. Angular Displacement:
○The angular displacement refers to the angle through which an object rotates or
the change in the orientation of an object about a fixed axis.
○ It is denoted by θ (theta) and is measured in radians (rad). A full revolution
corresponds to an angular displacement of 2π2\pi radians or 360°.
○ The formula for angular displacement is given by: θ=θ0+ωt+12αt2\theta =
\theta_0 + \omega t + \frac{1}{2} \alpha t^2 where θ0\theta_0 is the initial angle,
ω\omega is the angular velocity, α\alpha is the angular acceleration, and tt is
time.
2. Angular Velocity:
○Angular velocity (ω\omega) describes the rate at which an object rotates about
an axis.
○ It is defined as the change in angular displacement per unit time.
○ The unit of angular velocity is radians per second (rad/s).
○ Angular velocity is given by: ω=dθdt\omega = \frac{d\theta}{dt} or
ω=ω0+αt\omega = \omega_0 + \alpha t where ω0\omega_0 is the initial angular
velocity, and α\alpha is the angular acceleration.
3. Angular Acceleration:
○ Angular acceleration (α\alpha) is the rate of change of angular velocity.
○ It describes how quickly the rotational speed of an object is changing.
○ It is given by: α=dωdt\alpha = \frac{d\omega}{dt} The unit of angular acceleration
is radians per second squared (rad/s²).
4. Relationship between Linear and Angular Quantities:
○ For an object rotating in a circular path, there is a direct relationship between
linear motion (such as displacement, velocity, and acceleration) and rotational
motion. The linear distance ss, linear velocity vv, and linear acceleration aa are
related to their angular counterparts θ\theta, ω\omega, and α\alpha by the
following equations:
■ s=rθs = r \theta, where rr is the radius of the circular path.
■ v=rωv = r \omega.
■ a=rαa = r \alpha.
Kinematics of Rotational Motion
1. Rotational Kinematic Equations: The equations governing rotational motion are similar
to the kinematic equations for linear motion. They describe the relationships between
angular displacement, angular velocity, and angular acceleration:
θ=θ0+ω0t+12αt2\theta = \theta_0 + \omega_0 t + \frac{1}{2} \alpha t^2 ω=ω0+αt\omega
= \omega_0 + \alpha t ω2=ω02+2α(θ−θ0)\omega^2 = \omega_0^2 + 2\alpha (\theta -
\theta_0)
These equations can be used to analyze problems where an object rotates under
constant angular acceleration.
2. Example Problem: A disk starts from rest and accelerates at 2 rad/s22 \, \text{rad/s}^2
for 5 seconds. Find the final angular velocity and angular displacement.
○ Given: ω0=0 rad/s\omega_0 = 0 \, \text{rad/s}, α=2 rad/s2\alpha = 2 \,
\text{rad/s}^2, t=5 st = 5 \, \text{s}.
○ Using ω=ω0+αt\omega = \omega_0 + \alpha t: ω=0+(2)(5)=10 rad/s\omega = 0 +
(2)(5) = 10 \, \text{rad/s}
○ Using θ=θ0+ω0t+12αt2\theta = \theta_0 + \omega_0 t + \frac{1}{2} \alpha t^2:
θ=0+0+12(2)(52)=25 radians\theta = 0 + 0 + \frac{1}{2}(2)(5^2) = 25 \,
\text{radians}
Dynamics of Rotational Motion
1. Moment of Inertia (I):
○ Moment of inertia is the rotational analog of mass in linear motion. It measures
the resistance of an object to angular acceleration when a torque is applied.
○ For a point mass mm at a distance rr from the axis of rotation, the moment of
inertia is given by: I=mr2I = mr^2
○ For extended bodies, the moment of inertia depends on the distribution of mass
and the geometry of the object. For example:
■ For a solid disk rotating about its center: I=12mr2I = \frac{1}{2}mr^2
■ For a solid sphere rotating about its center: I=25mr2I = \frac{2}{5}mr^2
2. Torque (τ):
○ Torque is the rotational equivalent of force. It is the measure of the ability of a
force to cause rotational motion about an axis.
○ The torque τ\tau exerted by a force FF at a distance rr from the axis of rotation is
given by: τ=rFsinθ\tau = r F \sin \theta where θ\theta is the angle between the
position vector and the force vector.
○ The unit of torque is Newton-meters (N·m).
3. Rotational Analog of Newton’s Second Law:
○ In linear motion, F=maF = ma, where FF is the force, mm is the mass, and aa is
the acceleration.
○ In rotational motion, the rotational analog is: τ=Iα\tau = I \alpha where τ\tau is the
torque, II is the moment of inertia, and α\alpha is the angular acceleration.
4. Work and Energy in Rotational Motion:
○ The work done by a torque is given by the product of the torque and the angular
displacement: W=τθW = \tau \theta
○ The rotational kinetic energy is analogous to the kinetic energy in linear motion
and is given by: Krot=12Iω2K_{\text{rot}} = \frac{1}{2} I \omega^2
○ Power in rotational motion is the rate at which work is done and is given by:
P=τωP = \tau \omega
Conservation of Angular Momentum
1. Angular Momentum (L):
○ The angular momentum of an object is the product of its moment of inertia and its
angular velocity: L=IωL = I \omega
○ Angular momentum is a vector quantity and is conserved in an isolated system,
provided no external torques act on the system. This is known as the
conservation of angular momentum.
2. Example: A figure skater pulls in her arms while spinning. As she reduces her moment
of inertia, her angular velocity increases to conserve angular momentum.
Applications of Rotational Motion
1. Rotational Motion in Machinery:
○Understanding the principles of rotational motion is essential in designing gears,
turbines, engines, and other machinery.
○ In a car engine, for example, the crankshaft experiences rotational motion as
torque is applied by the combustion forces.
2. Astronomy:
○The Earth’s rotation on its axis and its revolution around the Sun are examples of
rotational motion. The concept of angular momentum helps explain the stability of
planetary orbits.
3. Sports:
○ In sports like figure skating, gymnastics, or diving, athletes manipulate their
moment of inertia and angular velocity to control their spins.
4. Entertainment:
○ Rotational motion is also fundamental in rotating objects like Ferris wheels,
amusement rides, and even in the spinning motion of a basketball.
Conclusion
Rotational motion is a fundamental aspect of classical mechanics, and understanding its
principles allows us to analyze and solve problems involving rotating objects. By mastering
concepts like angular displacement, angular velocity, moment of inertia, and torque, we can gain
a deeper understanding of how rotational motion impacts both everyday life and technological
innovations.
