Negative Angular Velocity: Is It a Change in Direction?

  • Thread starter NotaPhysicsMan
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In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of angular velocity and how a negative value indicates a change in direction around a fixed point. The person also mentions their calculations and questions whether the change in direction is reflected in the angular acceleration. The other person suggests using Google for conversions if needed.
  • #1
NotaPhysicsMan
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Ok,

If my angular velocity is negative, does that mean I've stopped and now changing directions in terms of my movement?

Thanks.
 
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  • #2
Angular velocity is rate of change of angle about a fixed point, so if it's negative it means you're now moving around the point in the opposite direction.
 
  • #3
Ok, so let's say my calculation came to:

120 degrees=+2.02 rad/s
150 degrees=-0.60 rad/s

Does this mean that in between this point, I stopped my movement in the positive and now am traveling in the opposing direction? So angular acceleartion doesn't really tell me if it has changed direction. Just tells me if it's slowing down or increasing.
 
  • #4
150 degrees should give more radians than 120 degrees. It's just measured on a different scale so that shouldn't cause it to become negative.

Try using google if the conversion isn't working out too well.
 

1. What is negative angular velocity?

Negative angular velocity refers to the direction of rotation of an object, specifically in the context of circular motion. It indicates that the object is rotating in a clockwise direction, as opposed to a counterclockwise direction.

2. Is negative angular velocity a change in direction?

Yes, negative angular velocity represents a change in direction of rotation. It is commonly used to describe the motion of objects in circular or rotational motion.

3. How is negative angular velocity measured?

Negative angular velocity is typically measured in units of radians per second (rad/s) or degrees per second (deg/s). It can also be expressed in revolutions per minute (RPM) or revolutions per second (RPS).

4. Can negative angular velocity have a magnitude?

Yes, negative angular velocity can have a magnitude. The magnitude of angular velocity is equal to the rate at which an object is rotating, regardless of its direction. The magnitude is always a positive value, while the sign indicates the direction of rotation.

5. How is negative angular velocity different from positive angular velocity?

Negative angular velocity indicates a clockwise direction of rotation, while positive angular velocity indicates a counterclockwise direction. The two are essentially opposite directions, and they are represented by different signs in equations and calculations.

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