Assignment 29

Angular position, angular velocity, the definition of the radian and other concepts relevant to the analysis of angular motion are introduced.  A many-parameter simulation of the motion of a particle in a gravitational field is introduced as a lab exercise.

In this assignment we begin to analyze more closely the motion of a point moving around a circle, and introduce the most natural measure of angular position, the radian, which directly relates angle, radius and arc distance.  Angular position and angular velocity, which were measured for a rotating strap in degrees and degrees per second, are now (for simplicity, though it might not immediately seem to be so) to be measured in radians and radians per second.

The Introductory Problem Set and qa assignments focus on radian measure of angle, as well as angular position and angular velocity.

The lab exercise consists of a simulation of satellite motion in the vicinity of a planet, in which the user has control over a large number of parameters.

Class Notes address the following topics:

• radian measure of angle; angular position, angular velocity, angular dynamics

• stable and unstable equilibrium

• rotational kinetic energy

• moment of inertia

The text assignment focuses on collisions in one or more dimensions and center of mass.