Rotational (Angular) Kinetic Energy Equation
Reference from the original Physics I textbook.
- Rotational (Angular) Kinetic Energy Equation
Rotational kinetic energy about a fixed axis: K_rot = ½Iω², where ω is the scalar angular speed.
- Related Glossary Terms
- Index
Reviewed physics notes (1)
These corrections keep the original lesson’s purpose while fixing errors in the source edition.
- Energy is scalar, not a vector squared. — Reference 1
Glossary and deeper reading · 2 refreshers
These editorial refreshers supplement the reading. Definitions and examples are added guidance; original source wording and recorded answers remain in their original context.
-
Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy is energy associated with motion relative to a chosen reference frame. For a nonrelativistic translating object it is one half of its mass times speed squared. For example, doubling a cart’s speed quadruples its translational kinetic energy when its mass stays fixed.
-
Rotational kinetic energy
Rotational kinetic energy is the kinetic energy associated with rotation about an axis. For a rigid body about a fixed axis it is one half of rotational inertia times angular speed squared. For example, a rolling wheel can possess both translational kinetic energy of its center of mass and rotational kinetic energy about that center.