% vim: tw=50 % 19/02/2022 10AM \subsubsection*{The Inertia Tensor (non-examinable)} $I$ is not inherent to the body itself - it also depends on the axis of rotation. A more refined quantity, which is a property only of the rigid body and contains the necessary information to compute the moment of inertia about any axis is the \emph{inertia tensor} $\mathcal{I}$, a $3 \times 3$ matrix. \\ It was already implicit in our expression of kinetic energy of a rotating object: \begin{align*} T &+ \sum_i \half m_i (\bf{\omega} \times \bf{x}_i) \cdot (\bf{\omega} \times \bf{x}_i) \\ &= \sum_i \half m_I \{|\bf{\omega}||\bf{x}_i|^2 - |\bf{\omega} \cdot \bf{x}_i|^2\} \\ &= \half \bf{\omega}^\top \mathcal{I} \bf{\omega} \end{align*} where the elements of the matrix are expressed in terms of $m_i$ and the components of $\bf{x}_i$. \[ \bf{x}_i = ((x_i)_1, (x_i)_2, (x_i)_3) := ((x_i)_a)_{a = 1, 2, 3} \] i.e. \[ \mathcal{I}_{ab} = \sum_i m_i \{|x_i|^2 \delta_{ab} - (\bf{x}_i)a(\bf{x}_i)_b\} \] Moment of inertia $\mathcal{I}_{\hat{\bf{n}}}$ about an axis $\hat{\bf{n}}$ is \[ \mathcal{I}_{\hat{\bf{n}}} = \hat{\bf{n}}^\top \mathcal{I} \hat{\bf{n}} \] and one can show that $\bf{L} = \mathcal{I} \bf{\omega}$. Hence angular momentum not necessarily in the same direction as the angular velocity. \subsection{Motion of Rigid Bodies} The mos general motion of a rigid body can be described by its centre of mass following a trajectory $R(t)$, together with a rotation around the centre of mass. \[ \bf{r}_i = \bf{R} + \bf{y}_i \implies \dot{\bf{r}}_i = \dot{\bf{R}} + \dot{\bf{y}}_i \] If the body rotates around the centre of mass with a velocity $\bf{\omega}$, \[ \dot{\bf{y}}_i = \bf{\omega} \times \bf{y}_i \implies \dot{\bf{r}}_i = \dot{\bf{R}} + \bf{\omega} \times (\bf{r}_i - \bf{R}) \tag{$*$} \] The kinetic energy is \begin{align*} T &= \half M \dot{\bf{R}}^2 + \half \sum_i m_i \dot{\bf{y}}_i \cdot \dot{\bf{y}}_i \\ &= \half M \dot{\bf{R}}^2 + \half \bf{T} \omega^2 \end{align*} \subsubsection*{Motion with Rotation About a Different Point} The centre of mass is the most natural point to choose. But we could describe the motion as the trajectory of some other point $\bf{Q}$ and rotation about $\bf{Q}$. \\ Put $\bf{r}_i = \bf{Q}$ in ($*$): \[ \dot{\bf{Q}} = \dot{\bf{R}} + \bf{\omega} \times (\bf{Q} - \bf{R}) \] Now use this to eliminate $\dot{\bf{R}}$ in ($*$) to get the motion of any particle with respect to $\bf{Q}$: \[ \implies \dot{\bf{r}}_i = \dot{\bf{Q}} + \bf{\omega} + \bf{\omega} \times (\bf{r}_i - \bf{Q}) \] Comparing to ($*$), we see that angular velocity $\bf{\omega}$ is the same. \subsubsection*{Example: Rolling} A hoop, radius $a$. \begin{center} \includegraphics[width=0.6\linewidth] {images/211cf8fc99c711ec.png} \end{center} If the hoop moves without slipping, there is a relationship between rotational and translational motion. The \emph{no-slip condition} is the requirement that point $A$ (defined as the point of contact with the ground) is stationary, i.e. has no speed with respect to the ground. \myskip The angular speed about centre is $\dot{\theta}$. But can also think of the hoop as rotating about $A$; also with angular speed $\dot{\theta}$ hence horizontal velocity of origin is $v = a\dot{\theta}$. Horizontal velocity of top of hoop is $2a \dot{\theta}$. \myskip \ul{Question}: What is speed of general point $P$? \\ Think of it rotating about $A$: \[ AP =2a \cos \left( \frac{\theta}{2} \right) \implies \text{speed of $P$ relative to $A$ is} \] \[ v' = 2a \cos \left( \frac{\theta}{2} \right) \dot{\theta} \] (check: $\theta = 0$, $v' = 2a \dot{\theta}$, and $\theta = \pi$, $v = 0$ as expected.) \begin{note*} Velocity of $P$ is not tangent to the hoop! This would only be the case if the hoop were rotating about a fixed point. It's actually perpendicular to $AP$, reflecting the fact that $P$ is rotating \emph{and} moving forward as the hoop moves. \end{note*} \noindent Comment: despite the presence of friction, this is one case where mechanical energy is conserved - because point of contact with the ground doesn't move with respect to the ground, friction does no work.