Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Rotational kinetic energy refers to the energy possessed by an object due to its rotation. It is dependent on both the moment of inertia and the angular velocity of the object.
Related terms
Moment of inertia (I): Moment of inertia is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotational motion. It depends on both the mass distribution and shape of the object.
Angular velocity (w): Angular velocity represents how fast an object rotates around an axis. It is measured in radians per second.