Rotational Kinetic Energy Formula:
| From: | To: |
Rotational kinetic energy is the kinetic energy due to the rotation of an object and is part of its total kinetic energy. It depends on the object's moment of inertia and its angular velocity.
The calculator uses the rotational kinetic energy formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the energy possessed by a rotating object based on its rotational properties.
Details: Calculating rotational kinetic energy is essential in physics and engineering for analyzing rotating systems, designing mechanical components, and understanding energy conservation in rotational motion.
Tips: Enter moment of inertia in kg m² and angular velocity in rad/s. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is moment of inertia?
A: Moment of inertia is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotation rate. It depends on the mass distribution relative to the axis of rotation.
Q2: How is angular velocity measured?
A: Angular velocity is typically measured in radians per second (rad/s) and represents the rate of change of angular displacement.
Q3: What are typical applications of rotational kinetic energy?
A: Applications include flywheel energy storage, rotating machinery analysis, sports physics (e.g., spinning objects), and celestial mechanics.
Q4: How does rotational kinetic energy relate to linear kinetic energy?
A: Both represent forms of kinetic energy - rotational for spinning objects and linear for moving objects. The total kinetic energy is the sum of both for objects that are both moving and rotating.
Q5: Can rotational kinetic energy be negative?
A: No, rotational kinetic energy is always positive or zero since it depends on the square of angular velocity and moment of inertia (which are always positive).