Angular Velocity Direction: Perpendicular or Parallel to the Plane of Motion?

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The direction of angular velocity is perpendicular to the plane of motion, as confirmed by the right-hand rule. This means that while the rotation occurs within the plane, the angular velocity vector itself points out of that plane. The relationship between angular velocity and linear velocity is expressed by the equation v = ω × r. Participants discussed common misconceptions and clarified the dimensional correctness of various formulas related to angular motion. Understanding these concepts is crucial for accurately applying principles of rotational dynamics.
Boomzxc
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Hi all, please help me here!
Im confused, is direction of angular velocity perpendicular to the plane of motion, or along the plane of motion??

From hyperphysics
- http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/rotq.html
- https://www.dropbox.com/s/dpeisla93d6mv71/Screenshot_2015-11-22-09-51-40-1.png?dl=0

And wikipedia
https://www.dropbox.com/s/13g86di3prid46h/Screenshot_2015-11-22-09-37-03-1.png?dl=0

Please also provide explanation if possible!
Thank you!
 
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Boomzxc said:
Hi all, please help me here!
Im confused, is direction of angular velocity perpendicular to the plane of motion, or along the plane of motion??

From hyperphysics
- http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/rotq.html
- https://www.dropbox.com/s/dpeisla93d6mv71/Screenshot_2015-11-22-09-51-40-1.png?dl=0

And wikipedia
https://www.dropbox.com/s/13g86di3prid46h/Screenshot_2015-11-22-09-37-03-1.png?dl=0

Please also provide explanation if possible!
Thank you!
It is perpendicular to the plane of motion (following the right hand rule). This is chosen so that the torque is given by
## \vec{\tau} = I \vec{\alpha} ## and ##\vec{\alpha} = \frac{d\vec{\omega}}{dt} ##.
 
Boomzxc said:
Im confused, is direction of angular velocity perpendicular to the plane of motion, or along the plane of motion??

The rotation is in the plane of motion, but the angular velocity vector is perpendicular to that plane.

##\vec{\omega}=\vec{r} \times \vec{v}##
 
Mister T said:
The rotation is in the plane of motion, but the angular velocity vector is perpendicular to that plane.

##\vec{\omega}=\vec{r} \times \vec{v}##

It is the other way round: ##\vec{v}=\vec{\omega} \times \vec{r} ##

See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_velocity

f79c5cb53b731791abb0dc6d12f63d94.png
 
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Oh, yeah! Sorry. Where did that come from?
 
Mister T said:
Oh, yeah! Sorry. Where did that come from?
For the first, see it in a textbook, Landau's Mechanics, for example. For the second, go to the link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_velocity or expand the cross product
##\vec r \times \vec{v}=\vec r \times [\vec{\omega} \times \vec{r}]##
Your formula is dimensionally incorrect.
 
Last edited:
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I meant, where did my mistake come from. As soon as you pointed it out I saw that of course it's dimensionally incorrect. I suppose I'm so used to dealing with ##\vec{L}=\vec{r} \times \vec{p}## and ##\vec{\tau}=\vec{r} \times \vec{F}## that it just came out of my brain that way.
 

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