radius of gyration

American  

noun

Physics.

1. the distance from an axis at which the mass of a body may be assumed to be concentrated and at which the moment of inertia will be equal to the moment of inertia of the actual mass about the axis, equal to the square root of the quotient of the moment of inertia and the mass.

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radius of gyration British  

noun

1. a length that represents the distance in a rotating system between the point about which it is rotating and the point to or from which a transfer of energy has the maximum effect. Symbol: k or r . In a system with a moment of inertia I and mass m , k ² = I / m

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Etymology

Origin of radius of gyration

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Sometimes it is necessary to find the radius of gyration, as in the next example.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

Although a column is normally subjected to compressive stresses, when the slenderness ratio—that is, the length divided by the radius of gyration of the cross section—becomes great, a secondary bending stress may be produced.

From The Engineering Contributions of Wendel Bollman by Vogel, Robert M.