What does a positive angular displacement indicate about the direction of motion?

What does a positive angular displacement indicate about the direction of motion?

• A. The motion is counterclockwise
• B. The motion is clockwise
• C. The body is at rest
• D. The motion is linear

Answer: (A)

A positive angular displacement indicates that the direction of motion is counterclockwise. In rotational motion, the convention is to define positive angular displacement as movements occurring in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from a designated point, usually above the axis of rotation. This aligns with standard mathematical and physical conventions, where angles measured in a counterclockwise direction from a reference line (often the positive x-axis) are considered positive. Understanding this concept is critical for analyzing rotational systems, such as gears or planets in orbit, where determining the direction of rotation significantly impacts the dynamics involved.

A positive angular displacement indicates that the direction of motion is counterclockwise. In rotational motion, the convention is to define positive angular displacement as movements occurring in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from a designated point, usually above the axis of rotation. This aligns with standard mathematical and physical conventions, where angles measured in a counterclockwise direction from a reference line (often the positive x-axis) are considered positive. Understanding this concept is critical for analyzing rotational systems, such as gears or planets in orbit, where determining the direction of rotation significantly impacts the dynamics involved.