Angular acceleration is the alteration that is registered in the angular velocity in a certain period of time.
Angular acceleration is the alteration that is recorded in angular velocity in a certain period of time . This speed measures, per unit of time, the angle rotated by an element that performs a rotation movement.
To understand the concept precisely, it is first necessary to be clear about several terms. Acceleration is the act and result of accelerating (increasing speed, granting speed ). This word can also be used to name the magnitude that indicates the increase in speed in a temporal unit.
Angular , for its part, is the adjective that qualifies that linked to an angle : the figure of geometry that is composed of two lines that share the same starting point.
The etymology
It is also interesting to know the etymological origin of the expression:
- Acceleration derives from the Latin acceleratio , which can be translated as "the action of proceeding to increase speed." It is the result of the sum of three different parts: the prefix ad- , which means "towards" ; the adjective celer , which is synonymous with "fast" ; and the suffix -ción , which can be translated as "action and effect" .
- Angular , on the other hand, is a word that comes from the Greek ankulus , meaning "bent" or "shaped like an angle."
What is angular acceleration
Angular acceleration is linked to how the speed reached by a rotating element changes in a rotational motion. This acceleration is expressed through radians per second squared and is referred to as the letter alpha of the Greek alphabet.
It should be noted that both angular acceleration and angular velocity have a vector character . Acceleration does not modify the axis of rotation, which maintains a stable direction in space .
It is possible to calculate different types of angular acceleration.
The calculation
Within the field of Physics, angular acceleration plays an important role. So much so that it is established that there are several methods to calculate it, among which the following stand out:
- Calculate the average angular acceleration . In order to carry out this operation, it is necessary to carry out steps such as measuring the initial angular velocity, the final angular velocity and the elapsed time.
- Calculate the instantaneous angular acceleration . To undertake this operation, you must first determine the position of the angular function, look for the angular velocity function, find the function of the aforementioned acceleration and apply the data to find the instantaneous acceleration .
- Review the angular acceleration which, among other things, involves measuring the angular movement in radians .
Types of angular acceleration
If we take the case of a body that performs a uniform circular motion (known as MCU ), we will notice that the angular acceleration is equal to 0 . This is because the angular velocity is constant: thus, if the angular velocity does not change, there is no angular acceleration.
When circular motion is uniformly accelerated ( MCUA ), however, an angular acceleration is recorded that remains constant .