# Rotational Kinetic Energy

The kinetic energy of a rotating body can be compared to the linear kinetic energy and described in terms of the angular velocity. The extended object’s complete kinetic energy is described as the sum of the translational kinetic energy of the center of mass and rotational kinetic energy of the center of mass. The rotational kinetic energy is represented in the following manner for a constant axis of rotation.

## Rotational Kinetic Energy Definition

Rotational energy occurs due to the object’s rotation and is a part of its total kinetic energy. If the rotational energy is considered separately across an object’s axis of rotation, the moment of inertia is observed.

## Rotational Kinetic Energy Formula

The rotational kinetic energy of a rotating object can be expressed as half of the product of the angular velocity of the object and moment of inertia around the axis of rotation. Mathematically written as:

Erotational = ½ I ω2

Where,

• Erotationalis Rotational Kinetic energy
• I is the moment of inertia
• ω is the angular velocity

The expression can be designed for linear and rotational kinetic energy parallelly from the principle of work and energy. Consider the particular parallel between a fixed exerted torque on a wheel with a moment of inertia and force on a mass m and both beginning from the rest.

According to Newton’s second law, the acceleration is equivalent to the resultant velocity divided by the time and average velocity is half of the final velocity. In rotational case, the angular acceleration given to the wheel is fetched from Newton’s second law of rotation.

The mechanical work that is required during rotation is the number of torque of the rotation angle. The axis of rotation for unattached objects is mostly around its center of mass.

Please note the relationship between the result of rotational energy and the energy held by linear motion.

ETransitional = ½ mv2
The moment of inertia plays the role of the mass and angular velocity plays the role of linear velocity v in a rotating system.

### Rotational Power Formula

Power for rotational systems depends upon torque and frequency of the rotation. By knowing the values of torque and revolutions per minute, power can be calculated. Following is table explaining the formula for rotational power:

 $P=\frac{\tau \times\frac{2}{\pi}\times rpm}{60}$

Where,

• P is the rotational power
• τ is the torque
• rpm is the revolutions per minute

To know more about rotational kinetic energy example problems and linear kinetic energy and rotational potential energy keep reading related links provided below.