PHYSICS 71

Chapter 10 Dynamics of Rotational Motion

31 Angular Momentum

National Institute of Physics

College of Science
University of the Philippines Diliman
Objectives
❑ Define angular momentum for a point particle and for a rigid
body.
❑ Explain the conditions for conservation of angular
momentum.
❑ Apply conservation of angular momentum to physical
systems.
Recall: Translational vs Rotational quantity
Torque

𝐹Ԧ → 𝜏Ԧ = 𝑟Ԧ × 𝐹Ԧ
Distance
Force

Angular Momentum

Distance
𝑝Ԧ𝑝Ԧ → 𝐿 = 𝑟Ԧ × 𝑝Ԧ Momentum
Angular Momentum: Point Particles
 Momentum in rotational motion:

𝐿 = 𝑟Ԧ × 𝑝Ԧ
 𝑟Ԧ points from the axis of rotation to the particle’s position
 𝑝Ԧ = 𝑚𝑣Ԧ is the linear momentum

Magnitude:
𝐿 = 𝑚𝑣𝑟 sin 𝜙

Direction: Right Hand Rule

𝑟Ԧ × 𝑝Ԧ = 𝐿
Example
Find the angular momentum of
the 2.00-kg rock with respect to
point O. Treat the rock as a
point particle.

Magnitude:
𝐿 = 𝑚𝑣𝑟 sin 𝜙
m
𝐿 = 2.00 kg 12.0 8.00m sin 36.9°
s
𝐿 = 115 kg m2 /s
Direction:
RHR: −𝑘෠ (Into the page)
Angular Momentum: Continuous Objects
 Moment of Inertia 𝐼 about O
 Angular velocity 𝜔

𝐿 = 𝐼𝜔
 𝐿 points in the same
direction as 𝜔

 If the axis of rotation corresponds to the center of

mass and it moves with velocity 𝑣Ԧ

𝐿tot = 𝑟Ԧ × 𝑝Ԧ + 𝐼𝜔
Example
Find the angular momentum of
the 2.00-kg rock with respect to
point O. The rock is a solid
sphere of radius 𝑅 = 0.300 m
and it spins CCW about its
center of mass at 𝜔 = 40 rad/s.
2
For a solid sphere: 𝐼 = 𝑚𝑅2
5

Due to rotation about CM: Due to translation:

𝐿rot = 𝐼𝜔 𝐿tra = 𝑟Ԧ × 𝑝Ԧ = 𝑚𝑣𝑟 sin 𝜙 −𝑘෠
2 𝐿tra = 115 kg m2 Τs −𝑘෠
𝐿rot = 𝑚𝑅2 𝜔 +𝑘෠
5
𝐿rot = 2.88 kg m2 Τs +𝑘෠
Total Angular Momentum
𝐿tot = 112kg m2 Τs −𝑘෠
Precession
- Is the change in the orientation of the rotational axis of a rotating body.
Conservation of Angular Momentum
 The analog of conservation of linear momentum in rotational
motion states:
If the net external torque on a system is zero,
then the total angular momentum of the system
remains the same.
 That is,
σ𝑖 𝜏Ԧ𝑖 = 0 then 𝐿 = constant
Conservation of Angular Momentum
Example
Transformer. Ikotron is a robot that can transform from a disk
of radius R to a rod of length 4R. In an outer space battle,
Ikotron spins in his disk form with an angular speed of ωdisk. He
then transforms himself into a rod (see the extraordinary figure
below), giving him a new angular speed of ωrod. What is the
ratio of ωdisk to that of ωrod

1 1
𝐼𝑐𝑚 = 𝑀𝑅2 𝐼𝑐𝑚 = 𝑀𝐿2
2 8: 3 12
Attendance Quiz
Show your solutions.
1.

2.
Attendance Quiz
Solution.

2𝜋 ra𝑑
𝜔= = 4.188 rad/s
1.50s
𝐿 = 𝐼𝜔 = 126 kg m2 /s

1
𝐿1 = 𝐿2 𝐼1 𝜔1 = 𝐼 𝜔2
2 1
𝐼1 𝜔1 = 𝐼2 𝜔2
𝜔2 = 2𝜔1
1
𝐼2 = 𝐼1
2
Credits/References
 University Physics 13th Ed, H. Young and R. Freedman
Pearson Education 2014
 Physics 71 Lectures by J De Mesa, J. Vance, C. Olaya, A
Lacaba, K Agapito