B.Tech.
BT-2025
Applied Physics (BBS00004)
Class 2025-26 ODD
Study Material
(Applied Physics, BBS00002)
Module - 1
Part - 3
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Table of Contents
Contents
Angular Displacement ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Angular Velocity ................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Angular Acceleration ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
Relation between linear velocity (v) and angular velocity (ω)...................................................................................... 2
Relation between linear acceleration (a) and angular acceleration (α) ....................................................................... 3
Centripetal Acceleration ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Centripetal Force............................................................................................................................................................... 3
Centrifugal force ............................................................................................................................................................... 3
Moment of a force or torque ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Moment of inertia ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Angular momentum .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Relation between torque and angular momentum .......................................................................................................... 4
Principle of conservation of angular momentum ............................................................................................................. 5
Exercise ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Multiple-choice questions: ........................................................................................................................................... 5
Short answer type questions: ....................................................................................................................................... 6
Long answer type questions: ........................................................................................................................................ 7
Answers to the MCQs ................................................................................................................................................... 8
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Applied Physics (BBS00004)
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Angular Displacement
The angle described by the position vector of the particle with
respect to the center in a certain time interval is called the angular
displacement in that time interval.
In the Fig 2.3.1, A and B are the position of the particle at instant t
and t+Δt respectively. Then as shown, Δθ is the angular
displacement in time Δt.
If the arc AB be Δs then,
Δθ = arc/radius = AB/r = Δs/r
i.e., Δs = rΔθ
SI unit: The SI unit of angular displacement is radian.
Angular Velocity
The angular velocity of a particle is defined as the angular displacement per unit time of the particle.
In Fig 2.3.1, the angular velocity in time Δt is ω = Δθ/Δt
SI unit: The SI unit of angular velocity is rad/sec.
Angular Acceleration
The angular acceleration is defined as the rate of change of angular velocity with time.
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑇ℎ𝑢𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙
If ω and ω+Δω be the angular velocities at the instant t and t+Δt respectively, the angular acceleration in the
time interval Δt is given by
𝛥𝜔
𝛼=
𝛥𝑡
SI unit: The SI unit of angular acceleration is rad/sec2.
Relation between linear velocity (v) and angular velocity (ω)
Let us consider a particle executing circular motion of radius r (Fig 2.3.1). If Δθ be the angular displacement
in a small time interval Δt, then angular velocity (ω) is given by
𝛥𝜃
𝜔=
𝛥𝑡
𝛥𝑠
and, 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡(𝛥𝜃) = 𝑟
𝛥𝜃 1 𝛥𝑠 1 𝛥𝑠 𝑣
Now, 𝜔 = = × = × = where linear velocity (v) = displacement/time = Δs/Δt
𝛥𝑡 𝛥𝑡 𝑟 𝑟 𝛥𝑡 𝑟
So, 𝑣 = 𝜔𝑟
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Relation between linear acceleration (a) and angular acceleration (α)
Let ω and ω+Δω be the angular velocities of a particle executing circular motion of radius r at the instants t
and t+Δt respectively. Then the angular acceleration is given by,
𝛥𝜔
𝛼=
𝛥𝑡
now, from the relation between linear velocity and angular velocity we get that 𝑣 = 𝜔𝑟 or, 𝜔 = 𝑣/𝑟.
𝛥𝜔 1 𝛥𝑣 𝑎
Hence, 𝛼 = = × = so, 𝑎 = 𝛼𝑟
𝛥𝑡 𝑟 𝛥𝑡 𝑟
Centripetal Acceleration
In uniform circular motion, an object moves in a circle with uniform speed. The velocity of the object changes
continuously in direction but not in magnitude. Thus, if circular motion of an object is uniform, the object will
possess an acceleration, called centripetal acceleration.
For a body of mass m moving in a horizontal circle r, the centripetal acceleration is given by
v2
Centripetal acceleration (αc) = = ω2 r
r
Centripetal Force
The external force which keeps a body moving along a circular path with uniform
linear speed being always directed towards the centre of the circle is called the centripetal force.
If, m = mass of the body
r = radius of the circular path
v = linear velocity of the body
ω = angular velocity of the body
𝑚𝑣 2
then, centripetal force (Fc) = = 𝑚𝜔2 𝑟
𝑟
Centrifugal force
It is defined as the fictitious or pseudo force which is equal and opposite to the centripetal force, acting radially
outwards away from the centre of a body.
𝑚𝑣 2
Magnitude of a centrifugal force is: 𝐹 = 𝑟
Where v is the velocity of the particle and r is the radius of the
circular path.
Centrifugal
The unit of centrifugal force is Newton (N) and its dimension
force
is [M1 L1 T −2 ].
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Moment of a force or torque
When an external force acts on a body if it has a tendency
to rotate the body about an axis, then the force is said to
exert a torque upon the body about that axis. When a
force F is applied on the body, it rotates about this axis.
The moment of the force F or the torque about the axis of
rotation is given by the product of the magnitude of the
force and the perpendicular distance of the line of action
of the force from the axis of rotation.
so 𝜏 = 𝐹𝑑.
Where d = rsinθ = perpendicular distance of the line of
action of the force from the point O.
In vector form = 𝑑 × 𝐹
SI unit of torque is N-m and its dimension is [M1 L2 T −2 ]
Moment of inertia
When a body rotates about an axis, it has a tendency of oppose any change in its state. The property of a
body by virtue of which it opposes any change in its state of rotation about an axis is called the “moment of
inertia” of the body about an axis. It is represented by I.
The moment of inertia of a particle about an axis is given by the product of the mass of the particle and the
square of the distance of the particle from the axis of rotation.
So, 𝐼 = ∑ 𝑚𝑟 2 = 𝑀𝑟 2
SI unit of moment of inertia is kg-m2and its dimension is [M1 L2 ]
Angular momentum
The angular momentum of a particle about an axis of rotation is defined as its moment of linear momentum
about that axis. Angular momentum is measured by the product of linear momentum and the perpendicular
distance of the line of action of the linear momentum from the axis of rotation.
So, 𝐿 = 𝑚𝑣𝑟 = 𝑚𝑟 2 𝜔, as 𝑣 = 𝜔𝑟
where m is mass, v is linear velocity, r is the perpendicular distance and ω is the angular velocity.
SI unit of angular momentum is kg-m2s-1 and its dimension is [M1 L2 T −1 ]
Relation between torque and angular momentum
Suppose a body is rotating about an axis under the action of a torque and its angular acceleration is 𝛼, then,
𝜏 = 𝐼𝛼
where I = Mr 2 .
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dω
Again α = .
dt
𝑑𝜔
So, 𝜏 = 𝐼 .
𝑑𝑡
The angular momentum of the body about the axis of rotation is
𝐿 = 𝐼𝜔.
Thus, we can write
𝑑𝐿
𝜏= .
𝑑𝑡
Thus, the rate of change of angular momentum of a body is equal to the external torque acting upon the body.
Principle of conservation of angular momentum
If no external torque acts on a body rotating about an axis, then the angular momentum of the body remains
constant, that is 𝐿 = 𝐼𝜔 = constant.
𝑑𝐿
If 𝜏 = 0, 𝑑𝑡 = 0, so L = constant.
This is the law of conservation of angular momentum.
Exercise
Multiple-choice questions:
1. A particle is thrown vertically upward with a velocity 40 ms-1 from the ground. Calculate the
time after which it will reach the ground.
(a) 8 s (b) 4 s
(c) 20 s (d) 16 s
2. Magnitude of displacement from initial position to final position is the _________.
(a) straight line (b) curved line
(c) circle (d) none of these
3. Displacement is a _____.
(a) scalar quantity (b) vector quantity
(c) Derived quantity (d) none of these
4. A force of 100 N is applied on a body of mass 50 kg. Calculate the acceleration of the body.
(a) 5000 ms-2 (b) 50 ms-2
(c) 150 ms-2 (d) 2 ms-2
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5. Speed of truck is 40 ms-1, after 10 s its speed decreases to 20 ms-1. Calculate its acceleration.
(a) -1 ms-1 (b) -2 ms-1
(c) -4 ms-1 (d) -5 ms-1
6. A heavy truck has more momentum than a passenger car moving at the same speed because the
truck ________________.
(a) has greater mass (b) has greater speed
(c) is not streamlined (d) has a large wheelbase
7 Identify the case when momentum is conserved.
(a) an elastic collision of two balls (b) an inelastic collision of two balls
(c) the absence of an external force (d) in all of the preceding cases
8. A gun recoiling when it is fired is an example of _________.
(a) conservation of momentum (b) conservation of angular momentum
(c) conservation of energy (d) none of these
9. A car traveling at a speed of 40 km/hr increases its speed to 80 km/hr. As a result, its kinetic
increases _____.
(a) 2 times (b) 4 times
(c) 8 times (d) none of these
10. Angular momentum is _____________.
(a) a scalar (b) a polar vector
(c) a scalar as well as vector (d) an axial vector
Short answer type questions:
1. Write the similarities and differences between speed and velocity.
2. Explain the possibility of the average velocity of an object to be equal to its instantaneous velocity?
3. Sketch the following graphs:
(i) Displacement vs time graph for an object moves with uniform acceleration.
(ii) Velocity vs time graph for an object moves with uniform velocity.
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4. A body is thrown from the ground with a velocity of 20 𝑚𝑠 −1 . Calculate (i) the maximum height reached,
(ii) the time to reached the maximum height, iii) the velocity and the height of the body after 3s. (𝑔 =
10𝑚𝑠 −2).
5. Sketch Velocity–time graph for motions with constant acceleration when
(a) Motion in positive direction with positive acceleration,
(b) Motion in positive direction with negative acceleration,
(c) Motion in negative direction with negative acceleration.
6. Differentiate between the centripetal force and centrifugal force.
7. Determine the relation between linear velocity (𝑣) and angular velocity (𝜔) of a moving particle.
8. Write short note on (i) Angular velocity, (ii) Torque.
9. Define impulse of a force. Recognize the well-known physical quantity having same dimension with
impulse.
10. Deduce the relation of reaction force and acceleration of a lift moving (i) upward and (ii) downward with
a constant acceleration.
Long answer type questions:
1. Explain the differences between translational motion and rotational motion? Write the moment of inertia
of a uniform solid cylinder about its axis.
2. Explain the conservation of linear momentum of a moving particle.
3. Write down the kinematic equations for uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion. Can these equations be
used for an object moving with nonuniform acceleration?
4. A running bullet penetrating 6 cm through a wooden block, its velocity reduced to half of its initial
velocity. How far will it penetrate further before it stops?
5. An object moving with constant acceleration travels distances 20 m and 24 m respectively in 3rd and 4th
second of its motion. Calculate the initial velocity and the acceleration of the object.
6. Two masses of 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 (𝑚2 > 𝑚1 ) are tied at the ends of an inextensible string of tension 𝑇. The
string passes over a light and frictionless pulley as shown in Fig. 1 below. Mass 𝑚1 moves upward with
acceleration 𝑎 and mass 𝑚2 moves downward with the same acceleration. Find expressions of 𝑎 and 𝑇 in
terms of 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 .
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Answers to the MCQs
1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (b)
6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (b) 10. (d)
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