Chapter 9 Torque and Rotation

9.1 Torque
9.2 Center of Mass
9.3 Rotational Inertia
 Chapter 9 Objectives
Calculate the torque created by a force.
Solve problems by balancing two torques in rotational
equilibrium.
Define the center of mass of an object.
Describe a technique for finding the center of mass of
an irregularly shaped object.
Calculate the moment of inertia for a mass rotating on
the end of a rod.
Describe the relationship between torque, angular
acceleration, and rotational inertia.
Chapter 9 Vocabulary Terms
 torque  center of rotation

 center of mass  rotational equilibrium

 angular  lever arm

acceleration
 center of gravity
 rotational inertia
 moment of inertia
 rotation
 line of action
 translation
9.1 Torque
Key Question:
How does force create rotation?

*Students read Section 9.1

AFTER Investigation 9.1
 9.1 Torque
A torque is an action that causes objects to rotate.
Torque is not the same thing as force.
For rotational motion, the torque is what is most directly related to the
motion, not the force.
 9.1 Torque
Motion in which an entire object moves
is called translation.
Motion in which an object spins is called
rotation.
The point or line about which an object
turns is its center of rotation.
An object can rotate and translate.
 9.1 Torque
Torque is created when the line of
action of a force does not pass
through the center of rotation.
The line of action is an imaginary
line that follows the direction of a
force and passes though its point
of application.
 9.1 Torque
To get the maximum torque, the
force should be applied in a
direction that creates the greatest
lever arm.
The lever arm is the perpendicular
distance between the line of
action of the force and the center
of rotation
9.1 Torque
Lever arm length (m)

Torque (N.m) t=rxF

Force (N)
 A force of 50 newtons is
applied to a wrench that is 30
centimeters long.

 Calculate the torque if the force is applied

perpendicular to the wrench so the lever arm is 30
cm.
 9.1 Rotational Equilibrium
When an object is in rotational equilibrium, the net torque applied to it is
zero.
Rotational equilibrium is often used to determine unknown forces.
What are the forces (FA, FB) holding the bridge up at either end?
9.1 Rotational Equilibrium
A boy and his cat sit on a seesaw.
The cat has a mass of 4 kg and sits 2 m from the center of
rotation.
If the boy has a mass of 50 kg, where should he sit so that the
see-saw will balance?
9.1 When the force and lever arm are
NOT perpendicular
 9.1 Calculate a torque

 A 20-centimeter wrench is
used to loosen a bolt.
 The force is applied 0.20 m
from the bolt.
It takes 50 newtons to loosen the bolt when the force is
applied perpendicular to the wrench.
How much force would it take if the force was applied at a 30-
degree angle from perpendicular?
9.2 Center of Mass
Key Question:
How do objects balance?

*Students read Section 9.2 AFTER Investigation 9.2

 9.2 Center of Mass
There are three different axes about which an object will naturally spin.
The point at which the three axes intersect is called the center of mass.
 9.2 Finding the center of mass
If an object is irregularly shaped, the center of mass can be found by spinning the object and
finding the intersection of the three spin axes.
There is not always material at an object’s center of mass.
9.2 Finding the center
of gravity
The center of gravity of an
irregularly shaped object can be
found by suspending it from two or
more points.
For very tall objects, such as
skyscrapers, the acceleration due
to gravity may be slightly different
at points throughout the object.
 9.2 Balance and center of
mass
For an object to remain upright, its center of gravity
must be above its area of support.
The area of support includes the entire region
surrounded by the actual supports.
An object will topple over if its center of mass is not
above its area of support.
9.3 Rotational Inertia
Key Question:
Does mass resist rotation
the way it resists
acceleration?

*Students read Section 9.3

AFTER Investigation 9.3
 9.3 Rotational Inertia
Inertia is the name for an object’s
resistance to a change in its motion
(or lack of motion).
Rotational inertia is the term used to
describe an object’s resistance to a
change in its rotational motion.
An object’s rotational inertia depends
not only on the total mass, but also on
the way mass is distributed.
9.3 Linear and Angular Acceleration

Angular acceleration
(kg)
Linear
acceleration
a=ar
(m/sec2) Radius of motion
(m)
 9.3 Rotational Inertia
To put the equation into rotational motion variables, the force is
replaced by the torque about the center of rotation.
The linear acceleration is replaced by the angular acceleration.
 9.3 Rotational Inertia
A rotating mass on a rod can
be described with variables
from linear or rotational
motion.
 9.3 Rotational Inertia
The product of mass × radius squared (mr2) is the
rotational inertia for a point mass where r is measured
from the axis of rotation.
 9.3 Moment of Inertia
The sum of mr2 for all the particles of mass in a solid is
called the moment of inertia (I).
A solid object contains mass distributed at different
distances from the center of rotation.
Because rotational inertia depends on the square of the
radius, the distribution of mass makes a big difference
for solid objects.
9.3 Moment of Inertia
The moment of inertia of some
simple shapes rotated around
axes that pass through their
centers.
9.3 Rotation and Newton's 2nd Law
If you apply a torque to a wheel, it will spin in the direction of
the torque.
The greater the torque, the greater the angular acceleration.
Application: Bicycle Physics