3d Rotational Transformation Of Inertia Properties

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3d rotational transformation of inertia properties

The inertia tensor, \mathbf I, relates angular momentum \mathbf L to angular velocity \boldsymbol\omega:

\mathbf L = \mathbf I \boldsymbol\omega

When rotating a rigid body, the components of vectors like angular momentum and angular velocity change. A rotation matrix, \mathbf T, transforms a vector from one frame to another, such as:

\mathbf V_2 = \mathbf T \mathbf V_1

Applying this to angular momentum and angular velocity, I have:

\mathbf I_2 \boldsymbol\omega_2 = \mathbf T \mathbf I_1 \mathbf T^{-1} \boldsymbol\omega_2

Because rotation matrices are orthonormal matrices, \mathbf T^{-1} = \mathbf T^T, I can write the final transformation as:

\mathbf I_2 = \mathbf T \mathbf I_1 \mathbf T^T

This equation allows me to calculate the inertia tensor in a rotated coordinate system once I know the original inertia tensor, \mathbf I_1, and the rotation matrix, \mathbf T.

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