ROTATIONAL
MOTION
Prepared by: Sir Joseph G. Gillesania LPT, ECT, CHRA, CRS
Objectives
◦Describe rotational quantities
◦Define stability
◦Calculate rotational motion problems
Review
Convert the following degree measure to radian
measure.
1.
2.
3.
Angular Quantities (rotational
quantities)
◦Rotational motion means that all points in the
object move in circles.
◦Rigid object is an object with a definite shape that
doesn’t change, so that the particles composing it
stay in fixed positions relative to one another.
Note: We will consider mainly the rotation of rigid
objects about a fixed axis.
Angular Position is defined as how far an object has
rotated.
𝒔=𝒓 𝜽
Where:
◦When an object rotates from some initial position,
specified by , to some final position, , its angular
displacement is
◦The unit for angular displacement is rad.
The angular velocity () is defined in analogy with linear
(translational) velocity. Instead of linear displacement, we use
angular displacement.
Where is the angle through which the object has rotated in the
time interval .
Angular velocity is generally specified in radians per second
(rad/s).
Note: All points in a rigid object rotate with the same angular
velocity since every position in the object moves through the
same angle in the same time interval. The direction can be
specified with a + or - sign; positive for counterclockwise
and negative for clockwise.
◦The angular acceleration () is defined as the
change in angular velocity divided by the time
required to make this change.
Since is the same for all points of a rotating object,
also will be the same for all points. The unit for angular
acceleration is rad/s2
Torque
Torque is the rotational counterpart of force.
Force tends to change the motion of things; torque
tends to twist or change the state of rotation of
things. If you want to make a stationary move, apply
force. If you want to make a stationary rotate, apply
torque.
Lever arm is the distance which provides leverage
the axis of rotation (pivot). The unit for torque is
We define torque as the product of this lever arm and
the force that tends to produce rotation:
Rotational Inertia
“An object rotating about an axis tends to
remain rotating about the same axis
unless interfered with by some external
influence.”
The property of an object to resist changes in
its rotational state of motion is called
rotational inertia (moment of inertia)
Center of Mass and Center of
Gravity
◦For a given body, the center of mass (CM) is the average
position of all the mass that makes up the object
◦Center of Gravity (CG) used to express center of mass.
The center of gravity is simply the average position of
weight distribution.
◦Center of mass and center of gravity refer to the same
point of an object for almost all objects on Earth’s Surface
◦Center of mass may be a point where no mass exist.
Stability
◦The location of the center of gravity is
important for stability. If we draw a line
straight down from the center of gravity of
an object of any shape and it falls inside the
base of the object, it is in stable equilibrium;
it will balance. If it falls outside the base, it is
unstable. To reduce the likelihood of tipping,
it is usually advisable to design objects with
a wide base and low center of gravity.
Example
A Bike wheel rotates 4.50 revolutions. How many
radians has it rotated?
Given: Solution :
4.5 rev
RTF: rotation in radians
Example
A carousel is initially at rest. At it is given a constant angular
acceleration of , which increases its angular velocity for 8 s. at ,
determine the angular velocity of the carousel.
Given: RTF: Solution:
Example
◦The biceps muscle exerts a vertical force on
the lower arm, bent. Calculate the torque
about the axis of rotation through the elbow
joint, assuming the muscle is attached 5 cm
from the elbow as shown.
Given:
Solution:
RTF:
