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

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the direction of angular velocity in relation to the plane of motion, specifically whether it is perpendicular or parallel to that plane. Participants reference various sources, including HyperPhysics and Wikipedia, to clarify their understanding of angular velocity concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express confusion regarding the direction of angular velocity, questioning whether it is perpendicular or along the plane of motion. Some provide definitions and relationships involving angular velocity, while others reference the right-hand rule and cross products to support their points.

Discussion Status

There are multiple interpretations being explored regarding the relationship between angular velocity and the plane of motion. Some participants have offered clarifications and corrections to earlier statements, indicating a productive exchange of ideas, though no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific sources and textbooks to support their arguments, highlighting the complexity of the topic and the potential for misunderstanding. There is also a reference to dimensional correctness in the context of angular momentum and torque equations.

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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