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Video Clips

RealVideo®
8:18 minutes (0:00 - 8:18)
Definition; calculating L from different frames; conservation of L from circle center.
Prof. Walter Lewin
Uniform Circular Motion (beginning of V5)
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RealVideo®
9:18 minutes (8:18 - 17:36)
Proof that dL/dt = r × f; angular momentum conserved when τ = 0; spin angular momentum defined.
Prof. Walter Lewin
Angular Momentum (beginning of V20)
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RealVideo®
7:58 minutes (17:36 - 25:34)
Angular momentum conservation calculation and demo for spinning person, with arms outstretched and pulled in.
Prof. Walter Lewin
Conservation of Angular Momentum (8:18 of V20)
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RealVideo®
9:58 minutes (25:34 - 35:32)
Definition; white dwarf, neutron star, black hole properties; energy released in a supernova.
Prof. Walter Lewin
Conservation of Angular Momentum (8:18 of V20)
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RealVideo®
7:36 minutes (0:00 - 7:36)
Conservation of angular momentum in general systems and in Earth's orbit; τ = 0 at center of revolution.
Prof. Walter Lewin
Conservation of Angular Momentum (8:18 of V20)
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RealVideo®
6:34 minutes (7:36 - 14:10)
Angular momentum of a rod revolving around the center of mass and a point off the CM; conservation of L only for CM.
Prof. Walter Lewin
Conservation of Angular Momentum (8:18 of V20)
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RealVideo®
11:30 minutes (14:10 - 25:40)
Speed of center of mass and angular velocity of rod after impulse at non-CM point, using two different origins; demonstration of motion.
Prof. Walter Lewin
Angular Momentum of Spinning Rod (7:36 of V21)
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RealVideo®
3:23 minutes (44:19 - 47:42)
Demonstration of blue plastic spinner that stops and spins in the opposite direction, apparently violating laws of physics.
Prof. Walter Lewin
Conservation of Angular Momentum (8:18 of V20)
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Lecture Notes

PDF - 1.6 MB
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Page 1 to page 2
Rotation about a fixed axis; definitions of angular velocity and angular acceleration; right-hand rule; rotational motion with constant angular accleration; relationship between angular velocity, linear velocity, and acceleration, with example.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 17
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PDF - 1.6 MB
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Page 3 to page 6
Definition of rotational kinetic energy, with example; definition of moment of inertia for a rigid body; moment of inertia example.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Rigid Body Kinematics
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PDF - 1.6 MB
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Page 1 to page 4
Parallel-axis theorem, with example; perpendicular-axis theorem, with examples; definition of angular momentum of a particle; definition of central forces; angular momentum of a particle moving in a straight line; angular momentum of a particle in uniform circular motion; angular momentum of a conical pendulum.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 21
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PDF - 1.6 MB
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Page 4 to page 6
Relationship between forces and angular momentum; definition of the law of conservation of angular momentum; definition of torque; angular momentum and central forces, with examples.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Angular Momentum, cross products
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PDF - 1.7 MB
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Page 1 to page 6
Torque and force; angular momentum and torque; torque and angular momentum of a conical pendulum; torque and angular acceleration; rigid body angular acceleration, with examples; torque due to gravity, with examples; conservation of angular momentum.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 22
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PDF - 1.6 MB
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Page 1 to page 1
Rotational dynamics examples, including particle on a string and spinning bicycle wheel.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 23
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PDF - 1.6 MB
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Page 1 to page 6
Work-energy theorem in rotational motion, with examples; angular impulse, with example; decomposition of displacement into translation and rotation; rolling motion of cylinders and spheres.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 23
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PDF - 1.3 MB
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Page 1 to page 5
Rolling motion of a rigid body, such as a cylinder or a sphere, with several examples; angular momentum and collisions, with example; gyroscope precession.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 24
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PDF - 1.2 MB
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Page 1 to page 10
Rotation about a fixed axis; definitions of angular velocity and angular acceleration; right-hand rule; rotational motion with constant angular acceleration; relationship between angular velocity, linear velocity, and acceleration, with example.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 17
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PDF - 1.2 MB
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Page 11 to page 16
Definition of rotational kinetic energy, with example; definition of moment of inertia for a rigid body; table of rotational inertia values for various objects; moment of inertia example.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Rigid Body Kinematics
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PDF
Page 1 to page 12
Parallel-axis theorem, with example; perpendicular-axis theorem, with examples; definition of angular momentum of a particle; definition of central forces; angular momentum of a particle moving in a straight line; angular momentum of a particle in uniform circular motion; angular momentum of a conical pendulum.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 21
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PDF
Page 13 to page 18
Relationship between forces and angular momentum; definition of the law of conservation of angular momentum; definition of torque; angular momentum and central forces, with examples.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Angular Momentum, Cross Products
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PDF
Page 1 to page 20
Torque and force; angular momentum and torque; torque and angular momentum of a conical pendulum; torque and angular acceleration; rigid body angular acceleration, with examples; torque due to gravity, with examples; conservation of angular momentum.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 22
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PDF
Page 1 to page 3
Rotational dynamics examples, including particle on a string and spinning bicycle wheel.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 23
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PDF
Page 4 to page 19
Work-energy theorem in rotational motion, with examples; angular impulse, with example; decomposition of displacement into translation and rotation; rolling motion of cylinders and spheres.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 23
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PDF
Page 1 to page 17
Rolling motion of a rigid body, such as a cylinder or a sphere, with several examples; angular momentum and collisions, with example; gyroscope precession.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
Lecture 24
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PDF
Page 1 to page 2
Torque defined; conditions for rotational static equilibrium; torque and rotational dynamics; moment of inertia; parallel axis theorem.
Dr. George Stephans
Rotational Kinematics
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PDF
Page 1 to page 2
Checklist for solving torque problems; angular momentum defined, with equation; angular impulse defined, with equation.
Dr. George Stephans
Rotational Dynamics, Rotational Energy
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PDF
Page 1
Definition, with equation; moments of inertia for common shapes; angular momentum and moment of inertia.
Dr. George Stephans
Angular Momentum
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PDF
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Page 1
Equations for angular momentum of orbiting bodies; connection of angular momentum and rotational energy to equation of orbit.
Dr. George Stephans
Moment of Inertia
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PDF
Page 1
Analogy of a precessing gyroscope to uniform circular motion.
Dr. George Stephans
Angular Momentum, Circular Motion
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PDF
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Page 8 to page 19
Overview of translational and rotational dynamics of a rotating point mass; angular velocity and angular acceleration vectors for fixed axis rotation; angular momentum of a point particle using cross products; right hand rule; angular momentum for fixed axis rotation; torque and the time derivative of angular momentum for a point particle.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
Rotational Dynamics
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PDF
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Page 20 to page 32
Angular momentum and torque for a system of particles; angular momentum of a rigid body for fixed axis rotation; conservation of angular momentum about a point; total angular momentum about a fixed point.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
Angular Momentum of a Point Particle
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PDF
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Page 1 to page 13
Conditions under which momentum, energy, and angular momentum are conserved; total angular momentum about a fixed point; earth's orbital angular momentum about sun; earth's spin angular momentum; total angular momentum for Earth's motion about Sun.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
Lecture 25
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PDF
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Page 1 to page 9
Angular momentum experiment setup and procedure.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
Lecture 25
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PDF
Page 13 to page 26
Torque, rotational kinetic energy, moment of inertia, and rotational work defined; strategy for computing moment of inertia; translational and rotational kinematics/dynamics combined; Kepler's Law for conservation of angular momentum.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
Lectures 24-27
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Practice Problems

PDF
Problem 1
Effect of tides on L and kinetic energy of earth-moon system; stable scenario for tidal system.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
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PDF
Problem 1
Angular acceleration as a function of moment of inertia; motion of a rolling wheel.
Dr. George Stephans
None
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PDF
Problem 1 to problem 2
Linear and angular momentum of a rotating tennis ball; parallel axis theorem; collision between a rod and a small mass; impulse and angular momentum.
Dr. George Stephans
None
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PDF
Problem 1
Effects of changing the moment of inertia of a spinning object on angular velocity, angular momentum, and kinetic energy.
Dr. George Stephans
None
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PDF
Problem 1 to problem 2
Collisions between washers spinning on the same axis.
Dr. George Stephans
None
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PDF
Problem 1 to problem 2
Torque, angular velocity, and precession of gyroscopes.
Dr. George Stephans
None
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PDF
Problem 30(1)
Calculating the moment of inertia of a uniform circular disc about two parallel axes.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 30(2)
Frictional torque acting on a spinning uniform circular disc.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 1
Calculating the moment of inertia of a washer.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 2
Analysis of data collected in Experiment 8.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 4
Motion of a meteor approaching and just grazing the earth.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 5
Motion of a somersaulting diver.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 1
Analysis of a hydrogen atom modeled as an electron orbiting a proton.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 2
Analysis of data collected in Experiment 9.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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Exam Questions

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Problem 3
3-part problem; bullet hits side of cylinder; finding L, ω, and v of cylinder.
Prof. Stanley Kowalski
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PDF
Problem 9
Effect of a child jumping onto a merry-go-round.
Dr. George Stephans
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PDF
Problem 11
Collision of a bat with a baseball.
Dr. George Stephans
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PDF
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Problem 1
5-part problem; initial L and kinetic energy of washer, frictional torque, final ω of washers, average τ in collision.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Kate Scholberg
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PDF
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Problem 3
Calculating ω and kinetic energy for bowling ball when it begins to roll; loss of KE.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Kate Scholberg
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PDF
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Problem 5
4-part problem; putty inelastically collides with stick; finding CM, p, ω, distance traveled in one revolution.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Kate Scholberg
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Problem 7
6-part problem; calculating α, ω, power exerted on merry-go-round; ω and kinetic energy after I changes.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Kate Scholberg
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PDF
Problem 1d
Effect of a spinning figure skater pulling in her arms.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 6
Collision of rotating and stationary washers.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem B3
Motion of a rotating merry-go-round, before and after children move to the center.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem B7
Two masses connected by a rope wrapped around a pulley.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 1b
Kinematics and dynamics of a rotating tetherball.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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PDF
Problem 1d
Rotational energy of a spinning figure skater.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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Problem 3
Angular acceleration of a steel washer mounted on a cylindrical rotor.
Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. J. David Litster, Prof. David Pritchard, Prof. Bernd Surrow
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