Rotational Kinematics Flashcards

What is angular velocity (omega)?

How fast something is spinning (units: radians per second)

What is angular acceleration (alpha)?

How fast the spin rate is changing (units: radians per second squared)

What is angular displacement (theta)?

The amount of rotation (units: radians)

What is the rotational version of velocity formula?

omega final = omega initial + alpha × time

What is the rotational displacement formula?

theta = (omega initial × time) + (1/2 × alpha × time squared)

What is the no-time equation?

omega final squared = omega initial squared + 2 × alpha × theta

When should you use the no-time equation?

When time is NOT given in the problem

How do you convert revolutions to radians?

Multiply by 2 × pi

How do you convert RPM to radians per second?

Multiply by (2 × pi ÷ 60)

What is the linear velocity formula?

velocity = radius × angular velocity

What is the linear acceleration formula?

acceleration = radius × angular acceleration

What happens to velocity if radius increases?

Velocity increases

What does it mean if alpha is zero?

The object is spinning at a constant speed

What does it mean if omega is zero?

The object is not spinning

What are the units of angular velocity?

radians per second

What are the units of angular acceleration?

radians per second squared

What are the units of angular displacement?

radians

If something starts from rest, what is omega initial?

zero

If something stops spinning, what is omega final?

zero

What is the key difference between linear and rotational motion?

Linear uses straight-line variables, rotational uses angles and spin.