AP Physics C: Mechanics

Advanced Placement Physics C: Mechanics with calculus-based physics principles.

Advanced Topics

Rotation and Angular Momentum

Spinning into Action

Rotation brings a new twist to mechanics! Rotational quantities have parallels with linear motion.

Angular Kinematics

Angular displacement, velocity (\( \omega \)), and acceleration (\( \alpha \)) describe how fast and how much something spins.

Torque and Rotational Inertia

Torque (\( \tau \)) is the rotational equivalent of force: \( \tau = I\alpha \), where \( I \) is rotational inertia.

Angular Momentum

Angular momentum (\( L \)) is conserved when no external torque acts: \( L = I\omega \).

Calculus in Rotation

Calculus helps analyze systems with changing torques or angular velocities.

Why Rotation Matters

From bicycle wheels to spinning planets, understanding rotation is crucial in engineering and science.

Examples

  • A figure skater spinning faster by pulling in her arms demonstrates conservation of angular momentum.

  • Torque applied to a wrench determines how easily a bolt turns.

In a Nutshell

Rotation and angular momentum explain the motion of spinning objects, from wheels to galaxies.