Instantaneous Center of Rotation The instantaneous center of rotation is a special point in a rigid body that acts as the fixed pivot point for all r...
The instantaneous center of rotation is a special point in a rigid body that acts as the fixed pivot point for all rotations about that body. This point is located on the line of action of the applied forces and is always present during the process of rotation.
Imagine a toy rotating on its axle. The center of rotation would be located at the axle's midpoint, since it is the point about which the entire toy is rotating.
The instantaneous center of rotation can be found using the following formula:
Ic = G + (m_i)r_i
where:
Ic is the instantaneous center of rotation
G is the center of mass of the rigid body
m_i is the mass of each particle within the body
r_i is the distance of each particle from the center of mass
The instantaneous center of rotation is an important concept in rigid body dynamics, as it provides a fixed reference point for analyzing rotation and its relationship to the applied forces