rotational energy


rotational energy

[rō′tā·shən·əl ′en·ər·jē] (mechanics) The kinetic energy of a rigid body due to rotation. (physical chemistry) For a diatomic molecule, the difference between the energy of the actual molecule and that of an idealized molecule which is obtained by the hypothetical process of gradually stopping the relative rotation of the nuclei without placing any new constraint on their vibration, or on motions of electrons.