Unit 6: Rotational Motion

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to rotational motion as outlined in the lecture notes.

Rotational Motion

Movement of objects in a circular motion, such as a spinning wheel or the rotation of the Earth.

Angular Velocity (w)

The rate of change of angular displacement, expressed in radians per second.

Angular Displacement (ϴ)

The angle through which an object has rotated about an axis, measured in radians.

Centripetal Acceleration

The acceleration directed towards the center of a circular path, keeping an object in circular motion.

Torque (τ)

The measure of the rotational effect of a force applied at a distance from an axis of rotation.

Moment of Inertia (I)

A quantity representing an object's tendency to resist angular acceleration, dependent on mass distribution relative to the axis of rotation.

Angular Acceleration (α)

The time rate of change of angular velocity, measured in radians per second squared.

Rotational Kinetic Energy (E_rot)

The energy an object possesses due to its rotation, given by E_rot = ½ I w².

Centripetal Force

The net force causing the centripetal acceleration of an object in circular motion, directed towards the center of the path.

Conservation of Angular Momentum

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