AHL Topic A.4

rigid body mechanics

Resources

Bicycle cassette cartridge (public domain): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wheel_and_gears_of_bicycle_(Unsplash).jpg

Lesson 1 - Rigid Body Mechanics

In our first HL Physics lesson, we will be looking at the relationships between linear and rotational displacements/angles, velocities, and acceleration. We will also explore the surprising but intuitive link to SUVAT equations.

Homework: Take notes and reading in Kerboodle through 130-134, answer Practice Questions 1-4.

Topic A.4 Worked Examples - Handout 1.pdf

Topic A.4 - Rigid Body Mechanics

Handout 1 solutions

Lesson 2 - moments of Inertia

Just as linear displacement, velocity, and acceleration have angular analogues, so too does mass: moments of inertia.

Topic A.4 Worked Examples - Handout 2.pdf

Topic A.4 - L2 - Moments of Inertia

Lesson 3 - Torque

Angular acceleration does not just happen to a system...it requires torque! In this lesson, we will define torque and relate it to moments of inertia. Take careful note of the unit for torque, it should look very familiar.

Handout 3 solutions

Topic A.4 Worked Examples - Handout 3.pdf

Lesson 3b - Torque practical

In this lesson, we will estimate the mass of a rod using the power of PURE INQUIRY.

Topic A.4 - Torque Experiment

Lesson 4 - Angular momentum

Angular momentum is the analog of linear momentum! We will work through the examples on the handout and suffer another lecture from Mr. Van Loh.

Handout 4 Solutions

Topic A.4 Worked Examples - Handout 4.pdf

TOK linKs

How does the assumption that bodies are perfectly rigid affect the reliability of knowledge in mechanics, and what does this reveal about the role of simplification in scientific inquiry?

How do cultural or historical developments in engineering and architecture shape the way knowledge about rigid bodies has been constructed and applied?

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