Elementary Plane Rigid Dynamics

Elementary Plane Rigid Dynamics focuses on the basic ideas of particle dynamics, including center of gravity, inertia, friction, and oscillations. The publication first offers information on the motion of a rigid body around a fixed axis. Discussions focus on moment of inertia for a sphere for an axis through its center of gravity; moment of inertia of a cylinder for an axis through its center of gravity and normal to its axis of figure; and moment of inertia of a rectangular parallelepiped for an axis normal to one of its faces and through its center of gravity. The text then elaborates on the general plane motion of a rigid body and some special problems involving friction. Topics include belt and rope friction, power transmitted by a flat disk coupling, friction in a flat step bearing, meaning of the general torque equation for plane motion, superelevation of the outer rail on a railway curve, kinetic energy, and equilibrium. The book takes a look at undamped simple harmonic motion and damped and forced oscillations, including vibrations with damping, compound pendulum, and amplitude of forced oscillations in the steady state. The publication is a valuable source of data for students interested in plane rigid dynamics.