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Rotational and Linear forces?
Suppose you are trying to get a top to spin by applying a force. The top will start spinning due to the torque caused by the force and it will also move in the direction of the force. If the force is applied a distance R from the centre of the top then we appear to have:
F=MA for linear motion A = linear acceleration M = Mass
FR=Ia for rotational motion. a= rotational acceleration I - moment of intertia
But I can't seem able to put them together to explain the top's movements
Any ideas
1 Answer
- gintableLv 71 decade agoFavourite answer
Just for the record, we don't call it "rotational force". We only call it either torque or "moment of a force". I prefer to call it torque.
The reason why a gyroscopic top has its interesting effects is sort of an angular analogue of "centripetal acceleration" concept.
Centripetal acceleration is what we call acceleration component that is perpendicular to velocity.
So, what becomes of the case of an angular acceleration that is perpendicular to angular velocity? That is what happens when we have the gyroscopic motion effects.
We usually prefer to study them with the concepts of torque and angular momentum. The torque will equal the time derivative of angular momentum...non-negotiable.
When you draw out the vectors, using the proper "right hand rule" (or if you want to be alternative, you could use your own left hand rule, but don't expect us to understand it)...and you will indeed see how the "angular momentum chases the torque".
