Rotational Motion

PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

WHEN AN OBJECT MOVES FROM ONE
PLACE TO ANOTHER, WE CALL IT LINEAR
MOTION OR TRANSLATIONAL MOTION.
WHEN AN OBJECT SPINS IT IS
SAID TO UNDERGO
ROTATIONAL
MOTION
 ROTATIONAL MOTION ( A.K.A.
ANGULAR MOTION)

ROTATIONAL MOTION describes the

motion of an object around a fixed line
called the “axis of rotation” or around a
fixed point called the “fulcrum” or
“pivot”.

AXIS OF ROTATION – a fixed line, around which something

turns, perpendicular to
FULCRUM (PIVOT) – a fixed point, the rotation
ROTATIONAL MOTION IS DESCRIBED IN
TERMS OF THE ANGLE THROUGH WHICH A
POINT MOVES AROUND THE CIRCLE.
ROTATION
ROTATION The ants moved different
distances: d1 is less than d2

q
d2
d1

Both ants moved the

Same angle: q1 = q2 (=q)

Angle is a simpler quantity than distance

for describing rotational motion
ANGLE AND RADIAN
• What is the circumference S ?
s
s  (2 )r 2 
r
• q can be defined as the arc length r r s
along a circle divided by the radius

: s

r

• q is a pure number, but commonly

is given the artificial unit, radian
(“rad”)
Whenever using rotational equations, you must
use angles expressed in radians
• = radius from axis of rotation
(measured in meters)

• = arc length through which

motion occurs (measured in meters)

• = angle through which rotation

occurs (measured in radians)
CONVERSIONS
• Comparing degrees and radians
2 (rad )  360 
 (rad )  180
1𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛=2 𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑

• Converting from degrees to radians


  rad    degrees 
180

• Converting from radians to degrees

360
180 1 rad   57.3
 (deg rees )   (rad ) 2

EXAMPLE 1.
ADJACENT SYNCHRONOUS
SATELLITES
Synchronous satellites are
put into an orbit whose
radius is r = 4.23*107m. The
orbit is in the plane of the
equator, and two adjacent
satellites have an angular
separation of   2.0 . Find
the arc length s.
 2 radians
2.0  (2.0 deg rees )( )  0.0349radians
360 deg rees

7
s  r  (4.23  10 m)(0.0349rad )

6
 1.48  10 m (920 miles )

12
ANGULAR POSITION
• Point P is at a fixed distance r from the
origin (axis of rotation)
• As the particle moves, the only
coordinate that changes is q
• As the particle moves through q, it
moves through an arc length s.
• The angle , measured in radians, is
called the angular position.
ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT
• The angular displacement is
defined as the angle the object
rotates through during some time
interval or the change of angular
position.
∆ 𝜃=𝜃 − 𝜃 0

• SI unit: radian (rad)

• This is the angle that the reference
line of length r sweeps out
 Angular displacement is
expressed in one of three
units:

1. Degree (1 full turn 3600 degree)

2. Revolution (rev) RPM (rev/min)
3. Radian (rad) SI unit
AVERAGE AND INSTANTANEOUS
ANGULAR SPEED
• The average angular velocity, ωavg, of a rotating rigid object is the ratio
of the angular displacement to the time interval or the rate of change of
angular displacement.

• The instantaneous angular velocity is defined as the limit of the

average speed as the time interval approaches zero

• SI unit: radian per second (rad/s)

• Angular VELOCITY positive if rotating in counterclockwise
• Angular VELOCITY will be negative if rotating in clockwise
 AVERAGE ANGULAR
ACCELERATION
• The average angular acceleration, a, of an object is
defined as the ratio of the change in the angular speed to
the time it takes for the object to undergo the change or
the rate of change of the angular velocity:

𝑡 =𝑡 0 : 𝜔 0 𝑡 =𝑡 : 𝜔
INSTANTANEOUS ANGULAR ACCELERATION
• The instantaneous angular acceleration is defined as the limit
of the average angular acceleration as the time goes to zero.
lim  d 
 t  0 
t dt
• SI Units of angular acceleration: rad/s²
• Positive angular acceleration is in the counterclockwise.
• if an object rotating counterclockwise is speeding up
• if an object rotating clockwise is slowing down
• Negative angular acceleration is in the clockwise.
• if an object rotating counterclockwise is slowing down
• if an object rotating clockwise is speeding up
Angular acceleration arises when the
angular velocity changes
 LINEAR VS ANGULAR VELOCITY
• Suppose we have 2 horses on a carousel.
The black horse is 1 meter from the
center and the white horse is 2 meters
from the center.
• Which horse has a greater angular velocity?
• They have the same! They will each cover a
full rotation (360o) in the same amount of
time.
• Which horse “feels” like they are going
“faster”?
• The white one!
• The white horse is going faster because it
has a greater Linear Velocity.
• It covers a greater distance (circumference)
in the same amount of time.
ANGULAR QUANTITIES:
LINEAR AND ANGULAR VELOCITY
Every point on a rotating body has an angular velocity ω
and a linear velocity (v).
∆𝑥
They are related:

∆𝑥
The linear velocity (AKA tangential
velocity) is always tangent to the circular
pat called the tangential velocity
 ANGULAR QUANTITIES
Therefore, objects farther from the axis of rotation will
move faster.
 ANGULAR QUANTITIES
THREE TYPES OF ACCELERATION
1. Tangential acceleration (linear acceleration)- if the angular velocity of a
rotating object changes, it has a tangential acceleration:

2. Centripetal acceleration (radial acceleration)- An object traveling in a

circle, even though it moves with a constant speed, will have an
acceleration.
• Therefore, each point on a rotating
object will experience a centripetal
acceleration
 RESULTANT ACCELERATION
• The tangential component of the
acceleration is due to changing
speed
• The centripetal component of the
acceleration is due to changing
direction
• Total acceleration can be found
from these components

a  at2  ar2  r 2 2  r 2 4  r  2   4
SPEED AND ACCELERATION NOTE

• All points on the object will have the same angular

speed, but not the same tangential speed
• All points on the rigid object will have the same
angular acceleration, but not the same tangential
acceleration
• The tangential quantities depend on r, and r is not the
same for all points on the object
v a T  r
 or v  r
r
Symbols Used in Rotational and Linear
Kinematics

Rotational Quantity  LinearMotion 

Motion 

 q   Displacement x
w0  Initial velocity  v0 
w Final velocity 
a  Acceleration 
t Time  t
ANGULAR QUANTITIES:
HOW DO THEY RELATE?

Here is the correspondence between linear and rotational

quantities:

𝑥=𝑠
CONSTANT ANGULAR
ACCELERATION
ANGULAR KINEMATIC EQUATION
The equations of motion for constant angular acceleration
are the same as those for linear motion, with the
substitution of the angular quantities for the linear ones.

1 1
𝜃 = ( 𝜔+ 𝜔0 ) 𝑡 𝑥= ( 𝑣 +𝑣 0 ) 𝑡
2 2
EXAMPLE: A ROTATING WHEEL
A wheel rotates with a constant angular acceleration of 3.5
rad/s2. If the angular speed of the wheel is 2.0 rad/s at
t=0
(a) through what angle does the wheel rotate between
t = 0 and t = 2.0 s? Given your answer in radians and in
revolutions.
(b) What is the angular speed of the wheel at t = 2.0 s?
0  2.0 rad / s
2
  0  ?
  3.5 rad / s
 ?
t  2.0 s
a. Angular displacement b. Angular speed
EXAMPLE
A turntable capable of   12 rad / s2

angularly accelerating at 12   400 rad

rad/s2 needs to be given an
t  6s
initial angular velocity if it is
o  ?
to rotate through a net 400
radians in 6 seconds. What   ot  1 t 2
2
must its initial angular
400  o (6)  (0.5)(12)(6) 2
velocity be?
o  30.7 rad/s
EXAMPLE 
  BLENDING WITH A BLENDER
The blades of an electric blender are whirling
with an angular velocity of +375 rad/s while the
“puree” button is pushed in. When the
“blend” button is pressed, the blades
accelerate and reach a greater angular velocity
after the blades have rotated through an
angular displacement of +44.0 rad (seven
revolutions). The angular acceleration has a
constant value of +1740 rad/s2. Find the final
angular velocity of the blades.

31
Given:
Req’d:

                                                                                                                                                                                             
EXAMPLE
The blades of a ceiling fan start from rest and, after two revolutions,
have an angular speed of 0.50 rev/s. The angular acceleration of the
blades is constant. What is the angular speed after eight revolutions?

Given:
Req’d:
Req’d:

constant acceleration
EXAMPLE:  A HELICOPTER
BLADE
A helicopter blade has an angular speed
of w = 6.50 rev/s and an angular
acceleration of a = 1.30 rev/s2. For points
1 and 2 on the blade, find the magnitudes
of (a) the tangential speeds and (b) the
tangential accelerations.

Given:
Req’d:
a. Tangential speed (linear speed) b. Tangential acceleration

@ point 1: @ point 1:

@ point 2: @ point 2:
EXAMPLE
The blade of a lawn mower is rotating at an angular speed of 17
rev/s. The tangential speed of the outer edge of the blade is 32 m/s.
What is the radius of the blade?

Given:
Req’d:
EXAMPLE: A DISCUS THROWER
Discus throwers often warm up by
standing with both feet flat on the
ground and throwing the discus with a
twisting motion of their bodies. A top
view of such a warm-up throw. Starting
from rest, the thrower accelerates the
discus to a final angular velocity of +15.0
rad/s in a time of 0.270 s before
releasing it. During the acceleration, the
discus moves on a circular arc of radius
0.810 m. Find (a) the magnitude a of the
total acceleration of the discus just
before it is released and (b) the angle f
that the total acceleration makes with
the radius at this moment.
Given:
Req’d: ,

𝑎 𝑡𝑜𝑡 = √ 𝑎𝑇 +𝑎 𝑅 =𝑟 √ 𝛼 + 𝜔
2 2 2 4
EXAMPLE
A rotating object starts from rest and has a constant angular
acceleration. Three seconds later the centripetal acceleration of a
point on the object has a magnitude of 2.0 m/s2. What is the
magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of this point six seconds
after the motion begins?

Given:
Req’d: when
Given:
Req’d: when

@ @
 EXAMPLE:  AN ACCELERATING
CAR
An automobile starts from rest and for 20.0 s has a constant linear
acceleration of 0.800 m/s2 to the right. During this period, the tires do
not slip. The radius of the tires is 0.330 m. At the end of the 20.0-s
interval, what is the angle through which each wheel has rotated?

Given:
Req’d:

42
Given:
Req’d:

Since the car is

moving to the right,
then the rotation of
the wheels are
clockwise, so the
angular acceleration
is negative.
 CAUSES OF CIRCULAR MOTION
• As an object spins around fixed axis, there
is “force” that pushes the ball outward and
tries to keep it moving out in a straight line,
but there is also a force that pulls the object
continually back toward the center of the
rotation.
•
Centripetal force – the inward force that
causes the radial acceleration.
Centrifugal force – the outward force
which balances the centripetal force.
DYNAMICS OF ROTATION
 TORQUE
• To make an object start
rotating, a force is needed; the
position and direction of the
force matter as well.
• Rigid body is an idealization of a body or system of bodies in
which deformation is neglected.
• Deformation is the change in shape and size of an object after
certain amount of force exerted on it.
• Torque – a quantity that measures the ability of a force to rotate
an object around some axis
• Lever arm (r) – perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation
to a line drawn along the direction of force
Torque = force x lever arm x angle of rotation
= Fdsinθ
= torque measured in (Nm)
F = force
d = distance from applied force to axis of
rotation
θ = angle of rotation
• Torque is a ROTATIONAL
VECTOR!
• Directions:
• “Counterclockwise” (+)
• “Clockwise” (-)
• “z-axis”
 TORQUE DEPENDS ON SEVERAL
FACTORS:
• Magnitude of force (bigger
force, bigger angular
acceleration)
• Direction of force ( if , bigger
angular acceleration)
• Location of force ( farther to the
axis, bigger angular
acceleration)
TORQUE AS A VECTOR

• Torque is zero three ways: Line of

action
t= d x F
Lever
t= (dsin q) * F arm
r sin q

O q
t= Fdsin q d

If q is zero (F acts along r)

F applied
If d is zero (f acts at axis)
If net F is zero (other forces!)
EQUILIBRIUM OF A RIGID BODY: A rigid body is
in equilibrium if it has zero translational
acceleration and zero angular acceleration. In
equilibrium, the sum of the externally applied
forces is zero, and the sum of the externally
applied torques is zero:

51
Two people are carrying a uniform wooden board that is
3.00 m long and weighs 160 N. If one person applies an
upward force equal to 60 N at one end, at what point
does the other person lift? Begin with a free-body
diagram of the board.
τ=0 +↺

100x=160(1.5)
x=
x=2.4 m
A boy and his cat sit on a seesaw. The cat has a mass of
4 kg and sits 2 m from the center of rotation. If the boy
has a mass of 50 kg, where should he sit so that the
seesaw will balance?

+↺
 A woman whose weight is 530 N is poised at the right end of a diving
board with a length of 3.90 m. The board has negligible weight and is
bolted down at the left end, while being supported 1.40 m away by a
fulcrum. Find the forces F1 and F2 that the bolt and the fulcrum,
respectively, exert on the board

F y 0 3.9m
− 𝐹 1+ 𝐹 2 − 𝑊 =0 1.4m
 2
                               .
0
𝐹 2 𝑑2 −𝑊 𝑑  𝑊 =0
                                                               
                                                                 
                                                                                           

𝐹 2 𝑑2 =𝑊 𝑑 𝑊
𝑊 𝑑𝑊 𝐹1 𝐹2 𝑊
𝐹 2=
𝑑2
530 (3.9) − 𝐹 + 𝐹 − 𝑊 =0
𝐹 2= 1 2
1.4 𝐹 2−𝑊 =𝐹 1
𝐹 2=1480 𝑁 𝐹 1 =1 480 −530
W = 530 N 𝐹 1 =950 N 55
An 8.00-m ladder of weight WL = 355 N leans against a smooth vertical
wall. The term “smooth” means that the wall can exert only a normal
force directed perpendicular to the wall and cannot exert a frictional force
parallel to it. A firefighter, whose weight is WF = 875 N, stands 6.30 m from
the bottom of the ladder. Assume that the ladder’s weight acts at the
ladder’s center and neglect the hose’s weight. Find the forces that the
wall and the ground exert on the ladder.
𝐹𝑁

𝐹𝑁

𝑑𝑃

𝑑𝐿

𝑑𝐹
 𝐹𝑁 F x 0 F y 0
𝐺 𝑥 − 𝐹 𝑁 =0 𝐺 𝑦 −𝑊 𝐿 − 𝑊 𝐹 =0
𝐺 𝑥 = 𝐹 𝑁 𝐺 =355+8 75
𝑦
𝐺 𝑥 =𝐹 𝑁 =727 𝑁 𝐺 𝑦 =1230 𝑁

𝐹𝑁

 G 0
−𝜏 𝐿 −𝜏 𝐹 +𝜏 𝑁 =0
𝑑𝑃
−𝑊 𝐿 ( 4 cos 𝜃 ) −𝑊 𝐹 ( 6.3 cos 𝜃 ) +𝑊 𝐿 ( 8 sin 𝜃 ) =0
−3 55 ( 4 cos 50 ) −875 ( 6.3 cos 50 ) + 𝐹 𝑁 ( 8 sin 50 )=0
−912.758 − 3543.367+ 𝐹 𝑁 ( 6.128 )= 0
𝑑𝐿 𝐹 𝑁 ( 6.128 )=912.758 +3543.367
4456.125
𝑑𝐹 𝐹𝑁= =727 𝑁
6.128
EXAMPLE 1.
  DIFFERENT LEVER ARMS,
DIFFERENT TORQUES

58
A force whose magnitude is 55 N is applied to a door. However, the lever
arms are different in the three parts of the drawing: (a) = 0.80 m, (b) =
0.60 m, and (c) = 0 m. Find the magnitude of the torque in each case.

(a)                                                                                        

(b)                                                                                        

(c)                                                                              

In part c the line of action of F passes through the axis of rotation

(the hinge). Hence, the lever arm is zero, and the torque is zero.
59
ROTATIONAL INERTIA
An object rotating about an axis
tends to remain rotating about the
same axis, unless an external
influence (torque, see soon) is
acting. (c.f. 1st law)

• The property to resist changes in rotational

state of motion is called rotational inertia,
or moment of inertia, I .
• Depends on mass, as well as the
distribution of the mass relative to axis
of rotation – largest if the mass is further
away from the axis
MOMENT OF INERTIA

I = ∑mr2

= moment of inertia (kg.m2)

= mass of object (kg)
= distance from axis of rotation (m2)
EXAMPLE: MOMENT OF INERTIA, I
Let's use this equation to analyze
the motion of a 4-m long bar with
I   mr 2
negligible mass and two equal m1 m2
masses(3-kg) on the end rotating
around a specified axis.

EXAMPLE #1 -The moment of Inertia when they are rotating around the
center of their rod.
I   mr  mr  mr
2 2 2

I  (3)( 2) 2  (3)( 2) 2  24 kgm2

EXAMPLE #2-The moment if Inertia rotating at m1 m2

one end of the rod
I   mr  mr  mr
2 2 2

I  (3)(0) 2  (3)( 4) 2  48 kgm2

 Center of Gravity
DEFINITION OF CENTER OF GRAVITY: The center of gravity of a rigid
body is the point at which its weight can be considered to act when the
torque due to the weight is being calculated.
or
EXAMPLE : THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF AN
ARM
The horizontal arm is composed of
three parts: the upper arm (weight
W1 = 17 N), the lower arm (W2 = 11
N), and the hand (W3 = 4.2 N). The
drawing shows the center of gravity
of each part, measured with respect
to the shoulder joint. Find the center
of gravity of the entire arm, relative
to the shoulder joint.

66
NEWTON'S SECOND LAW FOR ROTATIONAL
MOTION ABOUT A FIXED AXIS

FT = maT
t = FTr
t = maTr
aT = ra

𝜏=𝐼 𝛼

The constant of proportionality is I = mr2,

which is called the moment of inertia of the
particle. The SI unit for moment of inertia is kg 67
· m2.
ROTATIONAL ANALOG OF NEWTON’S SECOND LAW FOR A RIGID
BODY ROTATING ABOUT A FIXED AXIS

                     
 
 I
   
                                                                                                                               

Requirement: a must be expressed in rad/s2

Although a rigid object possesses a unique total mass, it does not have a
unique moment of inertia, for the moment of inertia depends on the
location and orientation of the axis relative to the particles that make up
the object.
EXAMPLE 
  THE TORQUE OF AN ELECTRIC SAW MOTOR

The motor in an electric saw brings the circular blade from rest up to the
rated angular velocity of 80.0 rev/s in 240.0 rev. One type of blade has a
moment of inertia of 1.41 × 10–2 kg · m2. What net torque (assumed
constant) must the motor apply to the blade?

q  a w w0   t 
1508 rad ? 503 rad/s 0
(240.0 rev)  (80.0 rev/s)  rad/s 
69
Σ𝜏 =𝐼 𝛼

( )
2 2
𝜔 − 𝜔0
Σ𝜏 =𝐼
2𝜃

                              
                                                                                                                                                             

70
EXAMPLE

A 10 kg block is attached to a 20 kg
pulley which is a solid disk of radius
2m. The block is released from rest 𝑚
causing the disk to spin. What is the
angular acceleration of the disk? How
fast is the block falling after 8
seconds?
 F y   ma   I
𝜏
𝑚
Solid Disk:
𝑇

𝑊
b.
EXAMPLE

Two blocks with masses 5 kg and 10 kg are

R=2m
hanging from a 20 kg pulley which is a solid M=20 kg
disk of radius 2m. Initially the pulley is
prevented from rotating and the blocks are at
rest. Then, the pulley is allowed to rotate as m1
the blocks fall. Find the acceleration of the 5 kg

blocks.

m2
10 kg
   I F y  m1 a
r=2m
M=20 kg

m1
5 kg

W1
F y  m2 a
Solid Disk:
m2
10 kg

W2
A block with a mass of 4 kg lies on a 30 degree
frictionless inclined plane and is connected to
a block with a mass of 3 kg by a string that
passes over a 5 kg pulley, which is a solid
disk, at the top of the incline. The radius of the
pulley is 0.2 m. Starting from rest, find the
angular acceleration of the pulley and the
linear acceleration of the blocks.

4 kg
 𝑇1
𝛼   I F
x  m1 a
4 kg 𝑇2
𝑊 1𝑥
𝑊1
𝑊2
F y  m2 a
Two masses are connected by a light cord
over a 4 kg pulley with a radius of 0.5 m.
The pulley is a solid disk as shown in the
figure. The coefficient of kinetic friction is
0.18. Starting from rest, Find the velocity of
the masses after 5 seconds.
𝐹𝑓 𝑇1 𝜏 F y  m2 a

𝑇2

𝑊2

  I F x  m1 a
A solid cylinder of radius 10 cm and mass 12
kg starts from rest and rolls without slipping a
distance 6.0 m down a roof that is inclined at
the angle 30. What is the angular speed of the
cylinder about its center as it leaves the roof?
The roof’s edge is at height 5.0 m. How far
horizontally from the roof’s edge does the
cylinder hit the level ground?
ROTATIONAL WORK AND ENERGY
DEFINITION OF ROTATIONAL WORK
The rotational work WR done by a constant torque t in turning an
object through an angle q  is

Requirement: q  must be expressed in radians. W = Fs = Frq 

SI Unit of Rotational Work: joule (J) 82

DEFINITION OF ROTATIONAL KINETIC ENERGY

The rotational kinetic energy KER of a rigid object rotating with an

angular speed w about a fixed axis and having a moment of inertia I is

Requirement: w must be expressed in rad/s.

SI Unit of Rotational Kinetic Energy: joule (J)

83
84
EXAMPLE 12.  ROLLING
CYLINDERS
A thin-walled hollow cylinder (mass = mh,
radius = rh) and a solid cylinder (mass = ms,
radius = rs) start from rest at the top of an
incline . Both cylinders start at the same
vertical height h0. All heights are measured
relative to an arbitrarily chosen zero level that
passes through the center of mass of a
cylinder when it is at the bottom of the incline.
Ignoring energy losses due to retarding forces,
determine which cylinder has the greatest
translational speed upon reaching the bottom.

85
h = h0, v0 = 0 m/s, w0 = 0
 
rad/s                                                           

86
 2
I  MR
                                     
                                                                                                           

1
I  MR 2
2
The solid cylinder, having the greater 87

translational speed, arrives at the bottom first.

 CHECK YOUR
UNDERSTANDING 4
Two solid balls are placed side by side at the top of an incline plane and,
starting from rest, are allowed to roll down the incline. Which ball, if
either, has the greater translational speed at the bottom if (a) they have
the same radii but one is more massive than the other, and (b) they have
the same mass but one has a larger radius?

88
 2mgh
vf  Solid ball I= (2/5) mr2
I
m 2
r
For m1 and r1 , I1= (2/5) m1r12

2m1 gh 2m1 gh 2 gh
v1   
I1 2 2
m1  2 m1  m1 1
r1 5 5

5
 (2 gh)
7
89
For m2 and r2 , I2= (2/5) m2r22

2m2 gh 2m2 gh 2 gh
v2   
I2 2 2
m2  2 m2  m2 1
r2 5 5

5
 (2 gh)
7

(a), (b) Both have the same translational speed.

90
ANGULAR MOMENTUM OF A
PARTICLE

= angular momentum (kg.m2/s)

= distance from axis of rotation (m2)
= mass of object (kg)
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
DEFINITION OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM The angular momentum L of
a body rotating about a fixed axis is the product of the body’s
moment of inertia I and its angular velocity w with respect to that
axis:

L  I
Requirement: w must be expressed in rad/s.
SI Unit of Angular Momentum: kg·m2/s

92
ANGULAR MOMENTUM FOR A RIGID BODY
ROTATING AROUND A SYMMETRY AXIS

= angular momentum (kg.m2/s)

= moment of inertia (kg.m2)
= angular velocity (rad/s)

The angular momentum of a rotating body remains constant when

there is zero net torque acting on the body.
A BASKETBALL SPINNING ON AN ATHLETE’S FINGER HAS ANGULAR VELOCITY
OF 120 RAD/S. IF THE BASKETBALL WEIGHS 0.6 KG AND HAS A RADIUS OF 0.12
M, WHAT IS THE ANGULAR MOMENTUM OF THE BASKETBALL?
 

Given: object = basketball: (hollow sphere)

Req’d: angular momentum

 
SOLUTION:
 CONSERVATION OF ANGULAR
MOMENTUM
An object or system of objects will maintain its angular
momentum unless acted upon by an unbalanced external torque.

So, if there is no net torque, angular momentum is conserved.

This principle is often used by a figure skater, drawing arms and legs in
to spin faster.
EXAMPLE 14.
  A SATELLITE IN AN ELLIPTICAL
ORBIT
An artificial satellite is placed into an
elliptical orbit about the earth. Telemetry
data indicate that its point of closest
approach (called the perigee) is rP = 8.37
× 106 m from the center of the earth, and
its point of greatest distance (called the
apogee) is rA = 25.1 × 106 m from the
center of the earth. The speed of the
satellite at the perigee is vP = 8450 m/s.
Find its speed vA at the apogee.

96
Kepler’s second law of planetary
motion states that a line joining a
planet to the sun sweeps out
equal areas in equal time
intervals.

97
Analogies Between Rotational and Translational Concepts

Physical Concept 
   Rotational   Translational 

 Displacement   q    s 

 Velocity   w   v 

Acceleration 
   a   a 
The cause of
 
 Torque t   Force F 
acceleration 
Inertia 
  Moment of inertia I   Mass m 
 

 Newton’s second law   St  =  Ia   SF  =  ma 

 Work   tq    Fs 
Kinetic energy 
   ½Iw2   ½mv2 
 Momentum   L  =  Iw   p  =  mv 
EXAMPLE:TORQUE AND FORCE

A crate resting on a horizontal surface. It has

a square cross section and a weight of W =
580 N, which is uniformly distributed. At the
bottom right edge is a small obstruction that
prevents the crate from sliding when a
horizontal pushing force P is applied to the
left side. However, if this force is great
enough, the crate will begin to tip or rotate
over the obstruction. Determine the
minimum pushing force that leads to tipping.

99
   P P  WW  0

                                                                                                                                      
                                                        

100
CONCEPTS & CALCULATIONS
EXAMPLE 16.   WHICH SPHERE
TAKES LONGER TO STOP?

Two spheres are each rotating at an

angular speed of 24 rad/s about
axes that pass through their
centers. Each has a radius of 0.20
m and a mass of 1.5 kg. However,
one is solid and the other is a thin-
walled spherical shell.

101
Suddenly, a net external torque due to friction (magnitude = 0.12 N · m)
begins to act on each sphere and slows the motion down. How long does
it take each sphere to come to a halt?

   0  t

  
I

  0  t
I 102
   0 I (   0 )
t 
( ) / I 

Solid sphere I=(2/5)MR2 2

MR 2 (  0 )
I (  0 ) 5
t 
 
2
(1.5kg )(0.20m) (0rad / s )  (24rad / s)
2

t 5  4.8s
 0.12 N  m 103
Spherical shell I=(2/3)MR2

2 2
MR (  0 )
I (  0 ) 3
t 
 
2
(1.5kg )(0.20m) (0rad / s)  (24rad / s )
2

t 3  8.0 s
 0.12 N  m
104