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TAM 212: Introductory Dynamics

Rolling motion #rko

A special case of rigid body motion is rolling without slipping on a stationary ground surface. This is defined by motion where the point of contact with the ground has zero velocity, so it matches the ground velocity and is not slipping.

Rolling without slipping on stationary ground surfaces.#rko‑er

Contact point P has zero velocity:vP=0

Derivation

It is helpful to think about the motion of the body in two ways:

  1. The body rotates about the moving center C.
  2. The body rotates about the instantaneous center at the contact point P.

These two ways of visualizing the motion can be seen on the figure below.

Movement: flat big flat rock
inside 2-circle inside 3-circle inside rock
outside 1-circle outside 2-circle outside rock

Center C Body P velocity P acceleration
none none
vC (trans.) aC (trans.)
ω×rCP (rot.) α×rCP (ang.)
ω×(ω×rCP) (cent.)
vP (total) aP (total)

Velocity and acceleration of points on a rigid body undergoing different rolling motions. #rko‑fr

Rolling on a 2D flat surface #rko‑sf

The most common and also the simplest form of rolling occurs on a flat surface.

Geometry and variables for rolling without slipping on a flat surface. #rko‑ff

While rolling, the velocity and acceleration are directly connected to the angular velocity and angular acceleration, as shown by the next equations.

Center velocity and acceleration while rolling on a flat surface.#rko‑ef

vC=rωˆetaC=rαˆet

Derivation

Another way to express the connection between angular and linear velocity and acceleration is via the distance s traveled by the rolling body:

Distance-angular relationships for rolling on a flat surface.#rko‑eh

s=rθ˙s=rω¨s=rα

Derivation

While rolling, the contact point will have zero velocity but will have a centripetal acceleration towards the rolling center:

Contact point P velocity and acceleration while rolling on a flat surface.#rko‑eo

vP=0aP=ω2rPC

Derivation

Rolling on a 2D curved surface #rko‑sc

When a circular rigid body rolls without slipping on a surface which is itself curved, the radius of curvature of the surface affects the acceleration (but not velocity) of points on the rolling body.

Geometry and variables for rolling without slipping on a curved surface. The left diagram shows rolling on the inside of the curve, while the right diagram is rolling on the outside of the curve. #rko‑fc

Because there are two different geometries for rolling on a curved surface (inside and outside), there are different sign conventions and variable definitions in the two cases, as listed below.

Geometric quantities for rolling on a curved surface.#rko‑eg

R=ρrω=ωˆebα=αˆeb} when rolling on the inside of a curved surfaceR=ρ+rω=ωˆebα=αˆeb} when rolling on the outside of a curved surface

Derivation

Warning: Radii of curvature ρ and R may not be constant.#rko‑wr

The center velocity for rolling on a curved surface is the same as for a flat surface, while the acceleration also depends on the radius of curvature of the surface:

Center velocity and acceleration while rolling on a curved surface.#rko‑ec

vC=rωˆetaC=rαˆet+(rω)2Rˆen

Derivation

The angular velocity of the rolling rigid body can be related to the derivative ˙s of the distance traveled on the surface as follows. In the special case of a perfectly circular surface, the angular acceleration also has a simple relationship with ¨s.

Distance-angular relationships for rolling on a curved surface.#rko‑ew

ω=Rρr˙son any curved surfaceα=Rρr¨son a circular surface

Derivation

Just as with rolling on a flat surface, when a rigid body rolls on a curved surface the contact point has zero velocity but nonzero acceleration, as shown below.

Contact point P velocity and acceleration while rolling on a curved surface.#rko‑ep

vP=0aP=ρRω2rPC

Derivation