Rolling Motion

Rolling motion is a combination of translational motion and rotational motion.

Kinetic Energy is associated with each kind of motion and both kinds of kinetic energy must be considered.

KE_tot = KE_tr + KE_rot

KE_tr = (1/2) m v²

KE_rot = (1/2) I ²

For an object that rolls without slipping (and that is all we will consider) the linear velocity v and the angular velocity   are connected by

v = r

ToC, Ch 11			Vector Product
Return to ToC, Ch11, Rolling Motion

(c) Doug Davis, 2001; all rights reserved