Physics › Section G · Statics, torque, and rotation › Topic G.4
Angular acceleration and rotational kinematics
A drill spinning up, a fan winding down and a car's wheels gathering speed all have changing rates of rotation. Angular acceleration describes that change, and a set of equations you already know from straight-line motion then predicts every turn.
In this topic
- When the spin rate changes
- Angle and angular velocity, recalled
- Angular acceleration
- Tangential and centripetal acceleration
- The rotational kinematic equations
- A strategy for rotation problems
- Worked example: a washing machine spin
- Worked example: a potter's wheel coasts
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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