- #1
Maxo
- 160
- 1
Could someone explain how angular velocity points perpendicular to the plane of rotation? I mean what is a physical explanation of this? (not mathematical)
I mean for a rotating object it's easy to see that is has a tangential velocity that always points tangential to the direction of movement. That makes sense, since the object is moving in the same direction as the velocity vector points to.
But with angular velocity, how can this be understood physically? A rotating object never moves in a direction perpendicular to the plane of rotation, so why does the angular velocity point in this direction?
I mean for a rotating object it's easy to see that is has a tangential velocity that always points tangential to the direction of movement. That makes sense, since the object is moving in the same direction as the velocity vector points to.
But with angular velocity, how can this be understood physically? A rotating object never moves in a direction perpendicular to the plane of rotation, so why does the angular velocity point in this direction?