Rotational Motion

By the end of this chapter you should be able to:

• Convert translational quantities to rotational quantities.

• Use equations of motion to solve rotational motion problems.

• Solve rotational motion problems involving torques.

• Understand how tension forces can be used to solve problems involving torque on pulleys. 

• Explain the concept of rotational inertia and describe the variables that affect rotational inertia. 

• Calculate the kinetic energy of an object that is experiencing rotational motion. 

• Find the total kinetic energy of an object that is experiencing a combination of translational and rotational motion. 

• Apply the principle of the conservation of energy to objects experiencing rotational motion.

• Solve problems that involve objects rolling down slopes.

• Calculate the angular momentum of objects experiencing rotational motion. 

• Solve problems involving the principle of the conservation of angular momentum. 

• Solve problems that involve both the conservation of angular momentum and the conservation of energy.

• what is a radian? (animated gif)

• Torque, angular velocity, angular acceleration, rotational inertia and angular momentum: PHET turntable with bugs!

• Rotational Kinetic Energy of tic-tacs: youtube from PhysicsGirl

• different masses racing down ramp (mass distribution idea) GeoGebra

• different masses rolling down ramp (showing calculation of Ekr and Ek) GeoGebra

• angular acceleration from torque: GeoGebra

• Person on rotating platform: GeoGebra