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Third and Fourth Rotational Kinematic Equations

Unit: Torque and Rotational Dynamics

Lesson Preview

The third rotational kinematic equation relates angular velocity, angular acceleration, and angular displacement without requiring time:

ωf2=ωi2+2αΔθ\omega_f^2 = \omega_i^2 + 2\alpha\Delta\theta

Here ωi\omega_i is the initial angular velocity, ωf\omega_f is the final angular velocity, α\alpha is the constant angular acceleration, and Δθ\Delta\theta is the angular displacement.

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Derivation

We derive this equation by eliminating tt from the first two rotational kinematic equations. From the first equation:

ωf=ωi+αt\omega_f = \omega_i + \alpha t

Solving for time:

t=ωfωiαt = \frac{\omega_f - \omega_i}{\alpha}

Substitute this expression into the second rotational kinematic equation:

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... continued in the full lesson.

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