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General Motion

Derivation Of General Motion Equations

A rigid body experiencing a state of general motion in three-dimensions is shown below.


Schematic showing general motion for a rigid body


The variables in the figure are defined as follows:

A is an arbitrary point on (or in) the rigid body

B is an arbitrary point on (or in) the rigid body

w is the angular velocity of the rigid body, with respect to ground

α is the angular acceleration of the rigid body, with respect to ground

r is the position vector from point A to point B. This vector is measured relative to the local xyz axes


Both coordinate systems XYZ and xyz are defined as parallel to each other. This is done so that vector components relative to each coordinate system can be directly added together (since x is parallel to X, y is parallel to Y, and z is parallel to Z).

The first coordinate system is the global XYZ reference frame. This reference frame is defined as fixed to the ground. The point o is the origin of XYZ.

The second coordinate system is the local xyz reference frame. This reference frame is defined as attached to the rigid body and moving with it. The origin of this reference frame is located at point A.

For both coordinate systems the individual axes shown correspond to the positive directions of those axes. For example, the positive direction of the Y-axes is to the right. The positive direction of the Z-axes is up.

The choice of positive direction for these two coordinate systems is defined in this way because the equations that will be presented here involve vector cross-product multiplication, the mathematics of which is based on this choice of sign convention. So it is important to use the same sign convention when solving problems using the equations presented here. If you use another sign convention, you might get the wrong answer.


We wish to find the general motion equations for velocity and acceleration of point B, relative to the fixed (ground) reference frame XYZ.

Note that point B is not necessarily moving with the rigid body. In other words, point B could be changing position relative to the rigid body. The figure below illustrates this.

Schematic showing relative motion of point B on rigid body for general motion


Where:

vrel is the velocity of point B relative to the moving xyz axes. Imagine if an observer were sitting on the xyz axes. The velocity vrel is what he would measure.

arel is the acceleration of point B relative to the moving xyz axes. Imagine if an observer were sitting on the xyz axes. The acceleration arel is what he would measure.

To find the general motion equation for the velocity of point B with respect to ground, it is useful to first imagine a simple case where point A is a stationary point (with zero velocity), and point B is attached to the rigid body and moving with it (vrel = 0). The figure below shows the velocity of point B (vB).

At the instant shown, the rigid body is rotating with an angular velocity w, and r is the position vector from point A to point B.

The velocity vB is perpendicular to the angular velocity vector w and the position vector r. The magnitude of vB is equal to |w|.|r|sinθ, where |w| is the magnitude of the angular velocity, |r| is the magnitude of the position vector, and θ is the angle between the two vectors w and r, as shown.


Schematic showing velocity of point B on rigid body for general motion if point A is stationary


The direction and magnitude of velocity vB is precisely given by the vector cross-product definition. Therefore,

Equation for velocity of point B on rigid body for general motion if point A is stationary

Now, let’s say vrel does not equal zero; which means that point B is moving relative to the xyz axes. We can account for this “extra” velocity by simply adding it to the above velocity equation. This gives us

Equation for velocity of point B on rigid body for general motion if point A is stationary 2

Similarly, if point A is no longer stationary and is moving at velocity vA with respect to ground, we can also account for it by simply adding it to the velocity equation. This gives us

Equation for velocity of point B on rigid body for general motion if point A is moving

This is the most general equation for velocity of a point B (with respect to ground), on a rigid body that is translating and rotating.


To find the general motion equation for the acceleration of point B we differentiate equation (1) with respect to time. Thus,

Equation for acceleration of point B on rigid body for general motion if point A is moving


Now, by vector addition

Vector equation giving position of point B on rigid body for general motion

Where:

rA is the position vector from point o (origin of the ground reference frame XYZ) to point A

rB is the position vector from point o (origin of the ground reference frame XYZ) to point B

We can rewrite equation (3) as

Vector equation giving r vector on rigid body for general motion

Differentiate this equation with respect to time and we get

Differentiated vector equation for r vector on rigid body for general motion

But we know that

Derivative of rB with respect to time is vB for general motion

and

Derivative of rA with respect to time is vA for general motion


Thus, equation (4) becomes

Differentiated vector equation for r vector on rigid body for general motion 2


Compare this to equation (1) and we see that

Differentiated vector equation for r vector on rigid body for general motion 3


The relative velocity vrel can be expressed as

Relative velocity vector for general motion

Where:

vrel,x, vrel,y, vrel,z are the components of the vector vrel relative to the local xyz axes

i, j, k are unit vectors pointing along the positive x, y, z axes (respectively)

Therefore,

Derivative of relative velocity vector for general motion

Now,

Relative acceleration components for general motion

where arel,x, arel,y, arel,z are the components of the vector arel relative to the local xyz axes.


Also,

Change of direction component of relative velocity derivative for general motion


The above formulation is a result of vector differentiation. For more information about this see the page on vector derivatives.


Therefore,

Derivative of relative velocity vector for general motion 2

and

Relative acceleration vector for general motion

Therefore,

Derivative of relative velocity vector for general motion 3

Substitute this equation and equation (5) into equation (2), and we get

Final acceleration equation for general motion


Now,

Angular acceleration for general motion


Therefore,

Final acceleration equation for general motion 2

This is the most general equation for acceleration of a point B (with respect to ground), on a rigid body that is translating and rotating.


For an overview of the general motion equations click here.

To see an example of a problem solved using the general motion equations click here.


If you know the direction of spin of the angular velocity, you must use the right-hand rule to assign the correct direction for its corresponding vector, and thus determine the correct values for its three components (wx, wy, wz). Similarly, if you know the direction of spin of the angular acceleration, you must use the right-hand rule to assign the correct direction for its corresponding vector, and thus determine the correct values for its three components (αx, αy, αz). The right-hand rule is consistent with vector cross-product multiplication, and is therefore consistent with the choice of sign convention given here for the XYZ and xyz coordinate systems. This again stresses the importance of using the sign convention used here when solving problems using these equations. This sign convention is standard in physics books.


A Further Note On Sign Convention For General Motion Equations

As mentioned before, equations (1) and (6) (for velocity and acceleration) are based on the sign convention used here (i.e. that is how they are derived).

An example of a sign convention that does not match the one used here is shown below.


Example of wrong sign convention for general motion


This choice of sign convention may result in errors if one uses it to solve problems using equations (1) and (6).



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