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ERIC Number: EJ931307
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Mar
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0143-0807
EISSN: N/A
Rules for Rolling as a Rotation about the Instantaneous Point of Contact
Jensen, Jens Hoejgaard
European Journal of Physics, v32 n2 p389-397 Mar 2011
It is a widespread misunderstanding in introductory physics courses that the motion of rolling bodies in general can be calculated using the point of contact as a reference point when equating the rate of change of angular momentum to the torque. In this paper I discuss in general two correct rules to be used instead, in order to derive the equation of motion of rolling bodies, taking moments about the point of contact. I also clarify that the point of contact either can be reckoned the fixed point on the rolling body instantly at the point of contact or the geometrical point defined as the point of contact at any time. Altogether this gives four different ways of deriving the equation of motion with some of them being easier than others depending on the case under consideration. The four different methods are as an illustration applied to a case presented recently by Turner and Turner (2010 "Am. J. Phys. 78" 905-7). (Contains 2 figures.)
Institute of Physics Publishing. The Public Ledger Building Suite 929, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 215-627-0880; Fax: 215-627-0879; e-mail: info@ioppubusa.com; Web site: http://www.iop.org/EJ/journal/EJP
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A