# Impulse resolution for purely rotational collisions (relative linear velocity = 0)

I've been writing a basic physics engine, (loosely) following Randy Gaul's online tutorial. I have been using this equation that he derives:

$$j=\frac{-(1+e)((V^A-V^B)*t)}{\frac{1}{{mass}^A}+\frac{1}{{mass}^B}+\frac{(r^A\times t)^2}{I^A}+\frac{(r^B\times t)^2}{I^B}}$$

This equation works well for the majority of all collisions. However, if two objects collide through rotation and rotation alone (that is, their relative linear velocity is 0), an impulse of 0 will be applied since VA - VB is 0. This results in one object clipping into another, passing through as if it were never there. While less noticeable, this can also be a problem for collisions where relative linear velocity is non-zero, but angular velocity is much greater than relative velocity.

This is clearly not how objects would interact with real-world physics. That being said, how would I determine the "effective" relative velocity used in the equation for rotating bodies? I have already tried adding the linear velocity of the collision contact point to the center of mass velocity for both objects, but have gotten unsatisfactory results.

• Please post a link to that equation. Apr 13 '18 at 19:37
$$\vec v ^\prime = \vec v + \vec w \times \vec r$$