How Can I Measure Kinetic Energy in a Non-Inertial Reference Frame?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around measuring kinetic energy in a non-inertial reference frame, specifically concerning a point A that may or may not be rotating with a plate. The original poster is seeking clarification on the derivation of a kinetic energy formula they encountered.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the ambiguity of the phrase "with respect to point A" and consider different scenarios regarding the motion of the reference frame. Questions are raised about whether the reference frame is rotating and how that affects the calculation of kinetic energy.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the potential issues with the kinetic energy formula presented by the original poster, suggesting that it may involve double counting. There is an ongoing exploration of the assumptions regarding the reference frame and its motion.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted lack of explicit attempts from the original poster, which has prompted requests for more effort to facilitate learning. The discussion is framed within the context of homework help, emphasizing the need for understanding rather than direct solutions.

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TL;DR Summary: I think A is an non inertial reference frame.So how can I measure kinetic energy about it?

I found a solution to the problem which states that Kinetic Energy about A= (Moment of Inertia about an axis passing through A*Angular Velocity^2)/2+(Mass*Velocity^2)/2 .Thus K=9.5.Can anyone please show me the derivation of this formula?
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The first difficulty is that "with respect to point A" is ambiguous.
It is reasonable to assume, as you have, that it does not mean the fixed point in space where that corner happens to be at some instant; rather, it moves with that corner of the plate. But that still does not answer whether the reference frame is also rotating with the plate. Consider both cases.
In each case, think of what an observer in the frame would see the plate as doing.
xkcda said:
Kinetic Energy about A= (Moment of Inertia about an axis passing through A*Angular Velocity^2)/2+(Mass*Velocity^2)/2
That seems very unlikely to be right. If you take the moment of inertia about the axis of rotation then you should not need to be adding a linear KE term: that would be double counting. Generally speaking, you can consider the instantaneous motion of a rigid body as the sum of the linear motion of its mass centre and its rotation about its mass centre. So if you have an ##mv^2## term for the linear component then the moment of inertia should be about the mass centre.
 
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