Rotational Motion Vocabulary Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to rotational motion in physics.

Angular Displacement

The angle through which a point or line has been rotated in a specified sense about a specified axis.

Angular Velocity

The rate of change of angular displacement with respect to time.

Angular Acceleration

The rate at which angular velocity changes with time.

Right-Hand Rule

A method used to determine the direction of angular quantities; the thumb points in the direction of the axis of rotation.

Tangent Velocity

The linear velocity of a point on a rotating object, which is directed tangentially to the circular path of the point.

Centripetal Acceleration

The acceleration directed toward the center of the circular path that keeps the object moving along it.

Radian

A unit of angular measure where the angle is subtended by an arc length equal to the radius.

Conversion Factor from Radians to Degrees

1 radian = 180/π degrees.

Constant Angular Acceleration

The condition in which an object's angular acceleration remains constant over time.

Rotational Inertia (Moment of Inertia)

The property of an object that quantifies its resistance to changes in its rotational motion.

Torque

The tendency of a force to cause rotation, dependent on the magnitude of the force, the distance from the axis of rotation, and the angle at which the force is applied.

Lever Arm

The perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to the line of action of the force.

Center of Mass

The average position of all the mass in an object.

Center of Gravity

The point where the weight of an object acts.

Static Equilibrium

A state where an object is at rest with no net force and no net torque acting on it.

Stable Equilibrium

An equilibrium state where, if disturbed, the object tends to return to its original position.

Unstable Equilibrium

An equilibrium state where, if disturbed, the object tends to move away from its original position.

Kinetic Energy of Rotation

The energy an object possesses due to its rotation, given by the formula KE = (1/2)Iω².

Angular Momentum

A measure of the rotational motion of an object, calculated as L = Iω.

Conservation of Angular Momentum

The principle stating that if no external net torque acts on a system, the total angular momentum remains constant.