Rotational kinetic energy
What Rotational kinetic energy means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Rotational kinetic energy
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Reference: AQA
Energy stored by a rotating mass, given by Eₖ = ½Iω², so storage increases with moment of inertia and with the square of angular speed.
A rotating mass stores this, given by E = ½Iω², where I is its moment of inertia and ω its angular velocity.
E = ½Iω², and it changes because internal work is done, even though L is conserved.
Topics that use Rotational kinetic energy
- Angular momentum (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Rotational kinetic energy (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Moment of inertia
- Angular momentum
- Angular velocity
- Flywheel
- Frictional torque
- Smoothing
- Smoothing of motion
- Angular impulse
Using Rotational kinetic energy in the exam
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