Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can explain why a rotating body must be treated as a rigid system, and when its rotation can be ignored so it can be treated as an object. (Guide: “Rigid systems and the choice of model”; Practice Q5(d))
- I can state a positive sense (clockwise or counterclockwise, and from where I am looking) before using any sign. (Guide: “Angular position and angular displacement”)
- I can explain why every point of a rigid system has the same θ, ω and α. (Guide: Figure 1)
- I can explain why the constant-α equations fail when α depends on time. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q4)
Calculation
- I can convert between rev, degrees, rpm and radian units before I calculate. (Guide: “Angular velocity and angular acceleration as derivatives”; Practice Q2)
- I can differentiate θ(t) to find ω(t) and α(t), with correct units. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q1)
- I can integrate α(t) to find ω(t) and θ(t), including ω₀ and θ₀. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q4)
- I can derive the three constant-α equations by integration, including the chain-rule step. (Guide: “Deriving the constant-α equations”)
- I can find angular displacement and total angle turned from an ω–t graph or from ω(t). (Guide: Figure 2; Practice Q5(b))
Reasoning
- I can decide whether a system is turning clockwise or counterclockwise, and spinning faster or slower, from the signs of ω and α. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q3)
- I can sketch θ–t, ω–t and α–t graphs for a described rotation and link their slopes and areas. (Practice Q5)
- I can predict how the time and angle change when α or the final ω is changed, and spot faulty scaling arguments. (Guide: Worked example 3; Practice Q7)
- I can linearise rotation-sensor data to test a model and extract a constant from the slope. (Practice Q6)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 5.2, Connecting Linear and Rotational Motion, or return to the course roadmap.