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Angular Acceleration Formula:
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Angular acceleration is the rate of change of angular velocity with respect to time. It describes how quickly an object's rotational speed is changing and is measured in radians per second squared (rad/s²).
The calculator uses the angular acceleration formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula represents the rotational equivalent of Newton's second law (F = ma), where torque is analogous to force, moment of inertia to mass, and angular acceleration to linear acceleration.
Details: Calculating angular acceleration is essential in mechanical engineering, robotics, aerospace, and physics for designing rotating systems, analyzing rotational dynamics, and solving problems involving rotational motion.
Tips: Enter torque in Newton-meters (Nm) and moment of inertia in kilogram-meter squared (kg·m²). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is the difference between angular acceleration and linear acceleration?
A: Angular acceleration describes changes in rotational speed (rad/s²), while linear acceleration describes changes in straight-line speed (m/s²).
Q2: How is torque related to angular acceleration?
A: Torque is the rotational equivalent of force and causes angular acceleration, with the relationship governed by τ = Iα.
Q3: What factors affect moment of inertia?
A: Moment of inertia depends on the mass distribution relative to the axis of rotation - it increases with mass and with distance from the axis.
Q4: Can angular acceleration be negative?
A: Yes, negative angular acceleration indicates deceleration or rotation in the opposite direction to the initial angular velocity.
Q5: What are typical units for angular acceleration?
A: The SI unit is radians per second squared (rad/s²), but degrees per second squared (°/s²) is also used in some applications.