Rotational Motion and Gravitation Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to rotational motion and gravitation.

Angular Velocity (ω)

The rate of change of angular position of a rotating object.

Angular Acceleration (α)

A vector quantity that describes the rate of change of angular velocity.

Angular Displacement (Δθ)

The change in angular position of a rotating object.

Radian (rad)

SI unit for angular displacement.

Tangential Velocity (vt)

Velocity of a point on a rotating object; is equal to the distance from the axis of rotation times the angular velocity.

Tangential Acceleration (at)

Acceleration of a point on a rotating object; is equal to the distance from the axis of rotation times the angular acceleration.

Centripetal Acceleration (ac)

The acceleration directed toward the center of the circular path; equal to v^2/r or rω^2.

Centripetal Force (Fc)

The net force toward the center that causes an object to move in a circular path.

∑Fr

The sum of forces in the radial direction.

Fictitious Forces

Forces that appear to arise due to the acceleration of the reference frame.