EXPERIMENT 7
ROTATIONAL MOTION
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between the angular velocity, linear velocity, and distance from the center of
rotating bodies.
PROCEDURE
1. Access the simulation package thru
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Balance-and-Rotation/Rotational-Velocity/Rotational-
Velocity-Interactive .
2. Put the ant and ladybug at 20cm and 50 cm from the center of the disk, respectively. Use the ruler found in
the simulation area to measure these distances. Increments on the ruler are scaled to 5cm (minor) and 10cm
(major).
3. Set the angular velocity from 40deg/s to 200deg/s (in increments of 40deg/s). Click go then record the
simulated linear velocity of the ant and ladybug in tables 1 and 2.
4. Calculate the linear velocity and centripetal acceleration using the equations below
𝑣 = 𝑟𝑤
2
𝑎𝑐 = 𝑟𝑤
5. Construct a graph of linear velocity vs angular velocity for both insects using MS EXCEL. Determine the
average slope of each graph.
6. Construct a graph of the centripetal acceleration vs the square of the angular velocity for both insects using
MS EXCEL. Determine the average slope of each graph.
, DATA SHEET
EXPERIMENT 7
ROTATIONAL MOTION
DATA
Table 1
Ant (r = 20 cm)
Angular Angular Linear Linear % Calculated
velocity velocity (rad/s) velocity(cm/s) velocity(cm/s) Difference Centripetal
(deg/s) Simulation Calculated acceleration (m/s2)
40 0.70 rad/s 14 cm/s 14 cm/s 0% 0.098 m/s2
80 1.40 rad/s 28 cm/s 28 cm/s 0% 0.392 m/s2
120 2.09 rad/s 42 cm/s 41.8 cm/s 0.48% 0.874 m/s2
160 2.79 rad/s 56 cm/s 55.8 cm/s 0.36% 1.557 m/s2
200 3.49 rad/s 71 cm/s 69.8 cm/s 1.70% 2.436 m/s2
Table 2
ladybug (r = 50 cm)
Angular Angular Linear Linear % Calculated
velocity velocity (rad/s) velocity(cm/s) velocity(cm/s) Difference Centripetal
(deg/s) Simulation Calculated acceleration (m/s2)
40 0.70 rad/s 36 cm/s 35 cm/s 2.82% 0.245 m/s2
80 1.40 rad/s 71 cm/s 70 cm/s 1.42% 0.98 m/s2
120 2.09 rad/s 106 cm/s 104.5 cm/s 1.43% 2.184 m/s2
160 2.79 rad/s 142 cm/s 139.5 cm/s 1.78% 3.892 m/s2
200 3.49 rad/s 179 cm/s 174.5 cm/s 2.55% 6.090 m/s2
*Show here your solution for all computations based on the tables.
ROTATIONAL MOTION
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between the angular velocity, linear velocity, and distance from the center of
rotating bodies.
PROCEDURE
1. Access the simulation package thru
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Balance-and-Rotation/Rotational-Velocity/Rotational-
Velocity-Interactive .
2. Put the ant and ladybug at 20cm and 50 cm from the center of the disk, respectively. Use the ruler found in
the simulation area to measure these distances. Increments on the ruler are scaled to 5cm (minor) and 10cm
(major).
3. Set the angular velocity from 40deg/s to 200deg/s (in increments of 40deg/s). Click go then record the
simulated linear velocity of the ant and ladybug in tables 1 and 2.
4. Calculate the linear velocity and centripetal acceleration using the equations below
𝑣 = 𝑟𝑤
2
𝑎𝑐 = 𝑟𝑤
5. Construct a graph of linear velocity vs angular velocity for both insects using MS EXCEL. Determine the
average slope of each graph.
6. Construct a graph of the centripetal acceleration vs the square of the angular velocity for both insects using
MS EXCEL. Determine the average slope of each graph.
, DATA SHEET
EXPERIMENT 7
ROTATIONAL MOTION
DATA
Table 1
Ant (r = 20 cm)
Angular Angular Linear Linear % Calculated
velocity velocity (rad/s) velocity(cm/s) velocity(cm/s) Difference Centripetal
(deg/s) Simulation Calculated acceleration (m/s2)
40 0.70 rad/s 14 cm/s 14 cm/s 0% 0.098 m/s2
80 1.40 rad/s 28 cm/s 28 cm/s 0% 0.392 m/s2
120 2.09 rad/s 42 cm/s 41.8 cm/s 0.48% 0.874 m/s2
160 2.79 rad/s 56 cm/s 55.8 cm/s 0.36% 1.557 m/s2
200 3.49 rad/s 71 cm/s 69.8 cm/s 1.70% 2.436 m/s2
Table 2
ladybug (r = 50 cm)
Angular Angular Linear Linear % Calculated
velocity velocity (rad/s) velocity(cm/s) velocity(cm/s) Difference Centripetal
(deg/s) Simulation Calculated acceleration (m/s2)
40 0.70 rad/s 36 cm/s 35 cm/s 2.82% 0.245 m/s2
80 1.40 rad/s 71 cm/s 70 cm/s 1.42% 0.98 m/s2
120 2.09 rad/s 106 cm/s 104.5 cm/s 1.43% 2.184 m/s2
160 2.79 rad/s 142 cm/s 139.5 cm/s 1.78% 3.892 m/s2
200 3.49 rad/s 179 cm/s 174.5 cm/s 2.55% 6.090 m/s2
*Show here your solution for all computations based on the tables.
