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COURSE 04 / COURSE

Rotation & Gravitation

Move from particles to bodies with shape.

OUTCOMEDescribe rigid-body rotation, torque, angular momentum, and Newtonian gravitation with a working mathematical toolkit.

PREREQUISITEDynamics plus work, energy, and momentum.

Rotation & Gravitation: original course diagram — Course visual: a compact prompt for the physical ideas developed below.

12 CHAPTERS

Course map

01Angular position and velocityUse radians and relate angular variables to points on a rotating body.→02Torque and rotational dynamicsChoose a pivot and calculate how forces change rotation.→03Moment of inertiaUnderstand rotational inertia as mass distribution, not just a table of numbers.→04The parallel-axis theoremMove an inertia calculation between useful reference axes.→05Rotational work and powerConnect torque, angular displacement, and motor power.→06Rolling without slippingCombine translation and rotation through a geometric constraint.→07Angular momentumTrack rotational motion when torque is absent or organized.→08Gyroscopes and precessionExplain slow axis motion without confusing it with ordinary spin.→09Newtonian gravityUse inverse-square interaction and distinguish weight from mass.→10Orbits and escapeUse energy and angular momentum to classify trajectories.→11Tides and distributed gravityApproximate how gravity varies across an extended body.→12Rotation studio: impeller and shaftEstimate torque, inertia, and startup behavior for a pump assembly.→