University Physics Volume 1

Summary

11.1Rolling Motion

• In rolling motion without slipping, a static friction force is present between the rolling object and the surface. The relations $vCM=Rω,aCM=Rα,anddCM=RθvCM=Rω,aCM=Rα,anddCM=Rθ$ all apply, such that the linear velocity, acceleration, and distance of the center of mass are the angular variables multiplied by the radius of the object.
• In rolling motion with slipping, a kinetic friction force arises between the rolling object and the surface. In this case, $vCM≠Rω,aCM≠Rα,anddCM≠RθvCM≠Rω,aCM≠Rα,anddCM≠Rθ$.
• Energy conservation can be used to analyze rolling motion. Energy is conserved in rolling motion without slipping. Energy is not conserved in rolling motion with slipping due to the heat generated by kinetic friction.

11.2Angular Momentum

• The angular momentum $l→=r→×p→l→=r→×p→$ of a single particle about a designated origin is the vector product of the position vector in the given coordinate system and the particle’s linear momentum.
• The angular momentum $l→=∑il→il→=∑il→i$ of a system of particles about a designated origin is the vector sum of the individual momenta of the particles that make up the system.
• The net torque on a system about a given origin is the time derivative of the angular momentum about that origin: $dL→dt=∑τ→dL→dt=∑τ→$.
• A rigid rotating body has angular momentum $L=IωL=Iω$ directed along the axis of rotation. The time derivative of the angular momentum $dLdt=∑ τdLdt=∑ τ$ gives the net torque on a rigid body and is directed along the axis of rotation.

11.3Conservation of Angular Momentum

• In the absence of external torques, a system’s total angular momentum is conserved. This is the rotational counterpart to linear momentum being conserved when the external force on a system is zero.
• For a rigid body that changes its angular momentum in the absence of a net external torque, conservation of angular momentum gives $Ifωf=IiωiIfωf=Iiωi$. This equation says that the angular velocity is inversely proportional to the moment of inertia. Thus, if the moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity must increase to conserve angular momentum.
• Systems containing both point particles and rigid bodies can be analyzed using conservation of angular momentum. The angular momentum of all bodies in the system must be taken about a common axis.

11.4Precession of a Gyroscope

• When a gyroscope is set on a pivot near the surface of Earth, it precesses around a vertical axis, since the torque is always horizontal and perpendicular to $L→.L→.$ If the gyroscope is not spinning, it acquires angular momentum in the direction of the torque, and it rotates about a horizontal axis, falling over just as we would expect.
• The precessional angular velocity is given by $ωP=rMgIωωP=rMgIω$, where r is the distance from the pivot to the center of mass of the gyroscope, I is the moment of inertia of the gyroscope’s spinning disk, M is its mass, and $ωω$ is the angular frequency of the gyroscope disk.
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