Abram M.

Sumalinog 12S1 - Edison

Angular Kinematics

Introduction
Ladybug Revolution іs a simulation that helps explain some of the variables for rotational
motion. The sіmulation allows users to control the angular velocity, angular acceleration, and radius of a
ladybug on a turning platform. By changing these varіables, users can see how they affect the ladybug's
motion. Ladybug Revolutіon is a valuable tool for learning about rotational motion. It is easy to use and
provides a visual representation of the concepts being discussed.

Methodology
The students were tasked with using the simulation tіtled Ladybug Revolution on the website
https://phet.colorado.edu/. After doіng so, they were given an activity sheet containing a set of
questions and instructions on how to use the simulation. The methodology involved changing the angle
units from degrees to radians, selecting “θ, ω, v” for angular velocity, selecting “θ, ω, α” for angular
acceleration, and calculating the angular velocity, lіnear velocity, angular acceleration, and angles. This
activity was a good introduction to the concepts of angular velocity, angular acceleration, and angular
kinematics. It helped the students to understand how these concepts are related to each other, and how
they can be used to describe the motion of rotatіng objects.

Results
What is Angular Velocity? How is it Related to Velocity?
1. Select “Radians” in the Angle Units. You will use Radians for the rest of the activity. Be sure that
it is always checked. Take a moment and examine the controls you have available. Explore the
controls a little before you begin the activity.

2. Click on the “Reset All” button and then quickly click on “Stop” on the graph displays. Be sure
that you remember to set the Angle Units to “Radians.” Under the show graphs options, select
“θ, ω, v.” Start the graphs experiment with changing the location of the ladybug on the wheel.
Watch the angular velocity. What do you think angular velocity is?
- Angular velocity refers to the rate at which an object or point moves around a specific axis or
center of rotation.

3. Click on the “ruler” option and determine if distance from the center of the wheel has any effect
on the angular velocity.
- The distance from the center of the wheel does not have any effect on the angular velocity.

4. Now examine how the distance from the center changes the velocity of the ladybug, if it does.
- As the ladybug approaches the center, its velocity decreases.

5. Play around with the simulation to see if you can determine if anything else affects the velocity
and how. Determine a mathematical relationship for velocity. (Hint: Examine ω and r).
- The velocity is determined by the angular velocity and the radius of the object's circular
path.

The relationship between velocity (v), angular velocity (ω), and radius (r) is given by the
equation: v = ωr

This equation shows that velocity is directly proportional to both angular velocity and radius.
If either ω or r increases, the velocity will increase as well. However, the distance from the
center alone does not determine the velocity. It is the combination of angular velocity and
radius that determines the object's velocity in circular motion.
 6. Place the ladybug at 1.5 m and set ω at 3 rad/s. Predict what the velocity would be and then run
the simulation to check your prediction. Are you correct?
- Yes, my prediction is correct. I based prediction on the formula v = ωr, where the resulting
velocity was 4.5 m/s.

What is Angular Acceleration?

8. Examine the acceleration and velocity vectors as the ladybug undergoes angular acceleration.
Which way do they point? Is this consistent with our knowledge of centripetal force and circular
motion?
- The angular acceleration points toward the center while the angular velocity points tangent
to the circle. This observation aligns with our knowledge of centripetal force and circular
motion.

9. As the ladybug undergoes angular acceleration, change its distance from the center and describe
how the acceleration vector changes. What do you think is the mathematical relationship
between angular acceleration, radius, and acceleration?
- As the ladybug moves farther to the center, its acceleration vector becomes longer because
its velocity is increasing. Angular acceleration is directly proportional to the tangential
acceleration and inversely proportional to the radius. In other words, the greater the angular
acceleration, the greater the tangential acceleration, and the smaller the radius, the greater
the tangential acceleration.

Angular Kinematics
10. Set the angle and the angular acceleration to zero. Set the angular velocity to 2.0 rad/s. Predict
how far the ladybug will rotate in radians after 5.0 s. Check your prediction with the simulation.
Was it correct?
- According to the formula θ = ωt = (2.0 rad/s)(5.0 s), the angular displacement should be 10
radians. However, the angular displacement shown in the simulator was θladybug = 26 radians.
This discrepancy suggests that there is an error in the simulator.

11. Set the angle to 5.0 rad and the angular acceleration to zero. Set the angular velocity to 3.5
rad/s. Predict the angle at which the ladybug will be at after 4.5 s. Check your prediction with
the simulation. Was it correct?
- According to the formula θ = θi + ωt = 5.0 rad + (3.5 rad/s)(4.5 s), the angular displacement
should be 20.8 radians. We can also use the formula θf = θi + ω0t + 1/2at2. However, the
angular displacement shown in the simulator was θladybug = 33 radians. This discrepancy
suggests that there is an error in the simulator.

12. Write a formula for the final angle θf an object will be at when it starts at an initial angle θi and
rotates with an angular velocity ω for a certain time interval Δt.
- The formula is θf = ω0t + 1/2at2, where θf is the final angle, ω is the angular velocity, and t is
the time interval.
 13. Setup the same scenario you had in #10, but set the angular acceleration to be 0.30 rad/s2.
Predict how fast the ladybug will rotate (ωf) after 5.0 s. Check your prediction with the
simulation. Was it correct?
- According to the formula ωf = ω0 + αt = 2.0 rad/s + (0.30 rad/s2)(5.0 s), the final angular
velocity should be 3.5 rad/s. However, the final angular velocity shown in the simulator was
2.22 rad/s. This discrepancy suggests that there is an error in the simulator.

14. Write a formula for the final angular velocity ωf an object will rotate when it starts at an initial
angular velocity of ωi and an angular acceleration α and rotates for a certain time interval Δt.
- The formula is ωf = ω0 + αt

15. Compare your equations to the four linear kinematic equations we derived in the beginning of
the course. Which two linear kinematic equations are similar to the two angular kinematic
equations you came up with above?
- The two linear kinematic equations similar to the two angular kinematic equations I came up
with are x = vit + 1/2at2 and vf = vi + at.

16. What do you think the two remaining angular kinematic equations are?
- The two remaining angular kinematic equations are θ = 1/2(ωf + ω0)t and ωf2 = ω02 + 2αθ.

Discussion
Angular velocity refers to the rate at which an object or poіnt moves around a specific axis or
center of rotation. It is determined by the object's angular displacement and the time taken to cover that
displacement. The dіstance from the center does not affect angular velocity, but it does impact linear
velocity. In other words, the distance from the center alone does not determine the velocity. It is the
combination of angular velocity and radius that determines the object's velocity in circular motion. The
relationship between velocity (v), angular velocity (ω), and radius (r) is given by the equation: v = ωr. This
equation shows that velocіty is directly proportional to both angular velocity and radius. If either ω or r
increases, the velocity will increase as well.

Angular acceleration refers to the rate at whіch the angular velocity of an object changes over
time. As the ladybug moves farther from the center, its acceleration vector becomes longer because іts
velocity is increasing. Thіs demonstrates that angular acceleration is directly proportional to the
tangential acceleration and inversely proportional to the radius. In other words, the greater the angular
acceleration, the greater the tangential acceleration. Addіtionally, as the radius decreases, the tangential
acceleration increases.

Comparіng the equations derived for angular kinematics with the four linear kinematic
equations we derived earlier in the activity, we can identіfy similarities. The equations x = vit + 1/2at2 and
vf = vi + at are similar to the angular kinematic equations θ = ω0t + 1/2at2 and ωf = ω0 + αt, respectively.
The two remaining angular kіnematic equations are θ = 1/2(ωf + ω0)t and ωf2 = ω02 + 2αθ. These
equations provide relationships between angular displacement, іnitial and final angular velocities,
angular acceleration, and time.