MECHANICS

By
Laxmi Prasad Chalise (LPC)
Lecturer Physics/Coordinator
Kathmandu Model College/+2
Bagbazar , Kathmandu , Nepal
Course Design Through Out The year
➢ Mechanics : ➢Electrical Circuit :
❑Rotational Dynamics ➢ Fluid Mechanics :
❑ Periodic Motion ❑ Surface Tension
➢ Wave (sound wave) : ❑Viscosity
➢ Wave:
❑ Wave Motion
❑Acoustics Phenomena
❑ Velocity of wave ❑Wave in pipes and Strings
➢ Wave Optics: ➢Hydrostatics
❑ Nature and Propagation of wave ➢Polarisation
❑ Interference
❑ Diffraction Three periods per week
Remember !!!
 Chapter
Rotational Dynamics
Let’s Recall

Circular Motion
 Parameters of Circular Motion: 2 Dimensional Motion
1. Angular Displacement (ϴ):
Angle traversed by position vector of the particle with respect to a
reference point (origin / center of circle) is known as angular
displacement.
Its SI unit is Radian (rad).
Note: Direction of angular vectors are given by
right hand thumb rule
Relation between time period frequency and angular velocity:
 Translation motion and rotational motion
❑A body is said to be in translation motion if each particle of it has equal linear
displacement in equal Interval of time.
❑Similarly a rigid body is said to be in rotational motion if each particle of it has
same angular displacement in equal interval of time.
Note :
In case of rotational motion, all particles have different linear displacement,
linear velocity, linear acceleration but same angular displacement, angular
velocity and angular acceleration.
Equation of motion :
Comparisons between the equation of motion for translational and
rotational motion of a body are given below:
Relation Between Linear And Angular Kinematics :
 Rotational motion of rigid bodies
Rigid body:
• A rigid body is defined as that body which does not undergo any change in shape or volume
when external forces are applied on it.
• When forces are applied on a rigid body, the distance between any two particles of the
body will remain unchanged, however, large the forces may be.
• Actually, no body is perfectly rigid. Every body can be deformed more or less by the
application of the external force. The solids, in which the changes produced by external
forces are negligibly small, are usually considered as rigid body.

Rotational motion:
When a body rotates about a fixed axis, its motion is known as rotatory
motion.
➢ A rigid body is said to have pure rotational motion, if every particle of
the body moves in a circle, the center of which lies on a straight line
called the axis of rotation.
• In the case of rotational motion, different constituent particles have different
linear velocities but all of them have the same angular velocity.

A
 Moment of Inertia:
❖ The moment of inertia of a particle about an axis is defined as the measurement of difficulty
in starting and stopping the rotation of the particle about the axis.
❖ A quantity that measures the inertia of rotational motion of the body is called rotational
inertia or moment of inertia of the body.
❖ It is defined as the sum of the products of masses of the particles of the body and square of
their distances from axis of rotation. It is denoted by I.
❖Consider a rigid body consisting of n particles of masses m1 , m2 ,
m3… situated at distances r1, r 2 , r3 … respectively from the axis of
rotation. Also, the rigid body is rotating with uniform angular
velocity ω about the axis. Then,
I = m1r12 + m2r22 + m3r32 +…..+ mnrn2 = σ𝑛𝑖=1 𝑚𝑖 𝑟𝑖2
It depends upon mass of the body, shape and size of the body,
distribution of the mass of the body about axis of rotation, distance of
body from axis of rotation
Unit : kgm2
Dimensional formula: [ML2T0]
Contd……
Physical significance of moment of inertia:
Moment of inertia plays the same role in rotational motion as the mass does in
translatory motion.
In translation motion, the property of inertia depends only on mass of the body
where as moment of inertia of rotational motion depends both on mass and the
position of the axis of rotation.
 Radius of gyration :

❖Radius of gyration of a body about an axis of rotation is the distance between

the axis of rotation and a point where the total mass of the body is supposed to
be concentrated.
❖ And, its M.I. about the axis of rotation will be the same as that determined by the actual
distribution of mass of the body. It is denoted by K .

Consider a rigid body consisting of n particles each having

mass m situated at distances r1, r 2 , r3 … respectively
from the axis of rotation. Also, the rigid body is rotating
with uniform angular velocity ‘ω’ about the axis. If the
body consist of ‘n’ number of particle each having mass m
then,
Total mass of the body M = nm
And,
𝐼 = σ𝑛𝑖=1 𝑚𝑟𝑖2
= 𝑚𝑟12 +𝑚𝑟22 + ⋯ … … … … . +𝑚𝑟𝑛2
= 𝑚(𝑟12 +𝑟22 + ⋯ … … … … . +𝑟𝑛2 )

𝑚𝑛(𝑟12 +𝑟22 +⋯………….+𝑟𝑛2 )

=
𝑛
Let the whole mass of body is concentrated at point having distance K from
axis of rotation. Then M.I. of body about axis of rotation,
I = MK2
2 𝑀(𝑟12 +𝑟22 +⋯………….+𝑟𝑛2 )
𝑀𝐾 =
𝑛

(𝑟12 +𝑟22 +⋯………….+𝑟𝑛2 )

∴𝐾=
𝑛
Hence, the radius of gyration of a body about the axis of rotation is the root mean square
distance of its particles from the axis of rotation.
➢ Unit: m.
➢ It depends upon
✓ Distribution of mass about axis of rotation
✓ Position and configuration of the axis of rotation
✓ size and shape of the body.
Kinetic energy of rotation of rigid body :

Let us consider a rigid body consisting n number of particle having

masses 𝑚1 , 𝑚2 … … . 𝑚𝑛 at a distance 𝑟1 , 𝑟2 … … . 𝑟𝑛 from the axis 𝑌𝑌 ′
as shown in figure.
Now,
The linear velocity of particle having mass 𝑚1 , 𝑚2 … … . 𝑚𝑛 is given by
𝑣1 = 𝜔𝑟1
𝑣2 = 𝜔𝑟2
……………..
𝑣𝑛 = 𝜔𝑟𝑛
The K.E. acting on the particle having mass 𝑚1 , 𝑚2 … … . 𝑚𝑛 is given by
1 1
𝑘. 𝐸1 = 𝑚1 𝑣12 = 𝑚1 𝜔2 𝑟12
2 2
1 1
𝑘. 𝐸2 = 𝑚2 𝑣22 = 𝑚2 𝜔2 𝑟22
2 2
……………………………….
1 1
𝑘. 𝐸𝑛 = 𝑚𝑛 𝑣𝑛2 = 𝑚𝑛 𝜔2 𝑟𝑛2
2 2
Now K.E. acting on the particle having mass 𝑚1 , 𝑚2 … … . 𝑚𝑛 along axis is given by
i.e. K.E.= 𝐾. 𝐸1 +𝐾. 𝐸2 +……+𝐾. 𝐸.𝑛

1 1 1
= 𝑚1 𝜔2 𝑟12 + 𝑚2 𝜔2 𝑟22 + ……+ 𝑚2 𝜔2 𝑟22
2 2 2

1
= 𝜔2 (𝑚1 𝑟12 + 𝑚2 𝑟22 + ……+ 𝑚2 𝑟22 )
2

1
K.E.= (σ𝑛𝑖=1 𝑚𝑖 𝑟𝑖2 ) 𝜔2
2
1
K.E.= 𝐼𝜔2
2
Which is the required expression for K.E.
Kinetic energy of rolling body (without slipping) :
A rolling body has two types of energies i.e. translational K.E. and rotational
K.E.

Consider a wheel of mass ‘m’ and radius ‘r’ rolling over a plane surface as
shown in figure . Let ‘v’ be the velocity of body and ‘𝜔′ be the angular velocity
of the body.
If I be the moment of inertia of the body about a given axis of rotation then,
K.E. of a rolling body is given by

𝐸𝑟 = 𝐾. 𝐸𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠 + 𝐾. 𝐸𝑅𝑜𝑡

1 1
= 𝑚𝑣 2 + 𝐼𝜔2
2 2

1 1
= 𝑀𝑟 + 𝑀𝐾 2 𝜔2
2 [∴ 𝐼 = 𝑀𝐾 2 ] [𝑣 2 =𝜔2 𝑟 2 ]
2 2
1 2𝜔 2 2 𝐾2
= 𝑀𝜔 𝑟 [1 + 2 ]
2 𝑟
1 2 2 𝐾2
𝐸𝑟 = 𝑀𝜔 𝑟 [1 + 2 ]
2 𝑟
Which is the required expression for K.E. of rolling body without slipping.
Acceleration of rolling body down an incline plane (without slipping)
OR
𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Prove 𝑎 = 𝐾2
= 𝐼
[1+ 2 ] [𝑚+ 2 ]
𝑟 𝑟
Consider a body having mass ‘m’ and radius ‘r’ which is rolling down an incline
plane at an angle 𝜃 with horizontal. Let the body acquires a linear velocity after
rolling down the incline plane of height h
The K.E. of the rolling body is given by,
1 𝐾2
K.𝐸𝑟 = 𝑀𝑣 2 [1 + ] ……………………………………(i)
2 𝑟2
Loss in P.E. of body = Mgh ………………………………..(ii)
Since, no slipping occurs. The mechanical energy is conserved
i.e. K.𝐸𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 =P.𝐸𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠
Using equation (i) and (ii)
1 𝐾2
𝑀𝑣 2 [1 + ] =Mgh
2 𝑟2
 2𝑔ℎ
𝑣2 = 𝐾2
…………………………(iii)
[1+ 2
𝑟
Since the body start from rest
We know equation of motion
𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠 [ since u=0]
𝑣 2 = 2𝑎𝑠 ……………………………….(iv)
Thus ,
2𝑔ℎ
2as = 𝐾2
[1+ 2
𝑟
𝑔ℎ
a= 𝐾2
…………………………………(v)
1+ 2 𝑠
𝑟
If s be the length of inclined plane
Then from ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶
ℎ
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 =
𝑠
ℎ = 𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ………………….(vi)
Using equation (vi) and (v)
𝑔𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
a = 𝐾2
1+ 2 𝑠
𝑟
𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
a= 𝐾2
………………… (vii)
1+ 2
𝑟
Multiplying and dividing equation (vii) by m, we get
𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
a= 𝑚𝐾2
= 𝐼
𝑚+ 2 𝑚+ 2
𝑟 𝑟

Which is the required expression for acceleration.

 Moment of inertia of Uniform Rod
(Rotating about an axis that passes through its center and
perpendicular to its length)
Consider a uniform rod of mass (M) and length (𝑙 ) as shown in Figure. Let us find
an expression for moment of inertia of this rod rotating about an axis (YY’) that
passes through the center and perpendicular to the rod . Consider an
infinitesimally small element of length dx having mass (dm) at a distance (x) from
the center O. The moment of inertia (dI) of this mass (dm) about the axis is,
Y
dI = ( dm ) x2
As the mass is uniformly distributed, the mass per unit
length (λ) of the rod is,
λ = M/𝑙
Now, the (dm) mass of the infinitesimally small length as,
dm = λdx = M/𝑙 dx
The moment of inertia (I) of the entire rod can be found by
integrating dI, Y’
As the mass is distributed on either side of the center, the limits for integration
are taken from − l/ 2 to l/ 2.

Which is the required expression for the moment of inertia of thin rod
rotating about an axis that passing through the center and perpendicular to
its length.
 Calculation of radius of gyration of a thin rod:
For a thin rod of mass (M) and length (𝑙) , the moment of inertia about an axis
passing through its center and perpendicular to its length is given by,
1
I = 𝑀𝑙2 ……………….(i)
12
If K is radius of gyration of the rod about the axis, then we also have

I = 𝑀𝐾2 ……………………(ii)
From Equation (i) and (ii)
1
𝑀𝐾2 = 𝑀𝑙2
12
K= 𝑙
12
This means if a rod of length 𝑙 is rotating about an axis passing through its center
and perpendicular to its length, the point at which all the mass of the rod could be
concentrated without altering the moment of inertia about the axis lies at a
𝑙
distance from the axis of rotation.
12
 Moment of inertia of a uniform rod about an axis passing
through one end and perpendicular to its length:
Consider a uniform rod of mass (M) and length (𝑙 ) as shown in Figure. Let us find an
expression for moment of inertia of this rod rotating about an axis (YY’) that passes
through one end and perpendicular to the rod.
Consider an infinitesimally small element of length dx having mass (dm) at a distance (x)
from the axis.
The moment of inertia (dI) of this mass (dm) about the axis is, Y

As the mass is uniformly distributed, the mass per unit length

(λ) of the rod is,
λ = M/ 𝑙
Now, the (dm) mass of the infinitesimally small
length as,
dm = λdx = M/𝑙 dx Y’

The moment of inertia (I) of the entire rod can be found by

integrating dI,
 In this case, the limits for integration are taken from 0 to l and we will get

Which is the required expression for the moment of inertia of a uniform rod
about an axis passing through one end and perpendicular to its length.