Physics for Engineers

ROTATIONAL MOTION
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION

What is an
Angular Motion?
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION

Angular Displacement (θ),

Angular Velocity (ω) and
Angular Acceleration (α)
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Angular Displacement (θ)
• usually expressed in radians, in
degrees, or in revolutions:
1 rev = 360o = 2π
SI Unit: rad
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Angular Displacement (θ)
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Angular Speed (ω)

Observe that, each point on the disc

undergoes the same angular displacement
in any given time interval
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Angular Acceleration (α)
Just as a changing speed leads to the concept of an acceleration, a
changing angular speed leads to the concept of an angular acceleration.
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Rotational Motion Under Constant Angular
Acceleration (α)
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Relations Between Angular and Linear Quantities
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Relations Between Angular and Linear Quantities
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 1
The rotor on a helicopter turns at an angular speed of
3.20x102 revolutions per minute (rpm/ rev/min).
(a) Express this angular speed in radians per second.
(b) If the rotor has a radius of 2.00 m, what arc length does
the tip of the blade trace out in 3.00x10 2 s?

a. ω = 33.5 rad/s b. s = 2.02x104 m

Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 2
A wheel rotates with a constant angular acceleration of 3.50
rad/s2. If the angular speed of the wheel is 2.00 rad/s at t=0,
(a) through what angle does the wheel rotate between t=0 and
t=2.00 s? Give your answer in radians and in revolutions.
(b) What is the angular speed of the wheel at t=2.00 s?
(c) What angular displacement (in revolutions) results while the
angular speed found in part (b) doubles?

a. θ = 11.0 rad, 1.75 rev b. ω = 9.00 rad/s c. θ = 5.52 rev

Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 3
A car is travelling at 50 km/hr. Determine the angular
speed of the wheels with a radius of 40 cm.

ω = 34.7 rad/s
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 4
A truck accelerates constantly from 40 km/hr to 60 km/hr
in 4 secs. What is the angular acceleration of the wheels of
radius 50 cm?

α = 2.78 rad/s2
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 5
A disc is rotating at 30 rad/s and slows down to 20 rad/s
while turning through 80 revolutions. How long will it
take for the disc to complete the 80 revolutions? What is
the angular acceleration of the disc?

α = -0.497 rad/s2 , t = 20.11 s

Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 6
A pulley of 50 cm radius is turning at 40 revs/s and slows
down to 20 revs/s in 3 secs. Calculate:
a. The angular and the tangential acceleration
b. The number of revolutions
c. The length of the belt in winds up.

a. α = -41.89 rad/s2 , at = -20.94 m/s2 b. θ = 90 rev c. s = 282.73 m

Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 7
A drier of washing machine is revolving at 850 rpm and
slows down uniformly to 260 rpm while making 60
revolutions. Find:
a. The angular acceleration
b. The time to complete 60 revolutions.
c. The number of revolutions more before it stops.
d. The time consumed before stopping.

a. α = -9.52 rad/s2 b. t = 6.49 s c. θ = 6.2 rev d. tstop = 2.86 s

Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Centripetal Acceleration & Centripetal Force
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Centripetal Acceleration & Centripetal Force
Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 8
A race car accelerates uniformly from a speed of 40.0 m/s to a
speed of 60.0 m/s in 5.00 s while traveling counterclockwise
around a circular track of radius 4.00x102 m. When the car
reaches a speed of 50.0 m/s, find
a. the magnitude of the car’s centripetal acceleration,
b. the angular speed,
c. the magnitude of the tangential acceleration, and
d. the magnitude of the total acceleration.

a. ac = 6.25 m/s2 b. ω = 0.125 rad/s c. at = 4.00 m/s2 d. a = 7.42 m/s2

Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 9
A 300 g ball is attached to one end of a cord and whirled in a
horizontal plane. The length of the cord is 1.5 m and rotates at a
constant rate of 3 revs/s, if the gravity is neglected, find:
a. The acceleration of the ball
b. The tension in the cord.

a. a = 532.96 m/s2 b. T = 159.89 N

Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 10
A 2kg ball is whirled in a vertical circle via a cord of radius 1m
at a constant velocity of 6.28 m/s. Calculate:
a. the tension in the cord at the top of the motion,
b. the tension in the cord at the bottom of the motion, and
c. the minimum velocity to keep the mass from “falling out” at
the top of the circle.

a. TT = 59.28 N b. TB = 98.48 N c. Vt = 3.13 m/s

Physics for Engineers
ROTATIONAL MOTION
Example 11
What is the maximum velocity of a car travelling on a flat curve
road if the coefficient of friction between the tires and road is
0.7? R= 25 m

Vt = 13.1 m/s