Talk:Angular frequency

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Is Angular frequency a scalar quantity (= Angular speed) or a vector quantity (=Angular velocity)? If AF = scalar, then I suggest we need a new Angular velocity article regarding its vector properties and make Angular speed redirect to Angular frequency. If AF = vector, then we leave Angular velocity redirecting to Angular frequency, but need a new Angular speed article reflecting its scalar properties... ian cairns 22:05, 28 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Would it be appropriate to create the term "Generic frequency" by making it a numeric value of 2π times any factor of ten? This means that the frequency term that defines Angular frequency would always be a tens multiple or division of 1. Currere 22:19, 20 May 2006 (UTC)

The short answer to ian cairns is that its both. It is a scalar that forms part of a vector, because its the magnitude of the vector. However (and here's the sticking point), it shouldn't be redirected to angular velocity or angular speed (which are often confused with each other anyway, let alone with angular frequency).

The problem (speaking linearly for a moment) is that velocity is metres/second, and speed is usually the magnitude of that (because velocity is actually a vector with speed as a magnitude and a heading as direction). Cars travel at speeds of 60kph, but their velocity is technically, say, 60kph heading due west. We don't say they travelled at a frequency of 60 (units of Hertz (Hz)), because that's referring to cycles per second -- which is probably akind to saying that the car travelled west 60 times each second. See? It just doesn't make the same kind of sense.

Similar thing with circles and circular motion. Angular velocity is its speed around the circle (how fast its going round the circle). Angular frequency is how many times it can do that in a unit period of time (usually a second). Does that make sense? Or have I unknowingly tied myself up in knots at some point? ;-)

--- SahRae Hyjo 05:16, 10 September 2006 (UTC)