Angular Momentum

01Angular Momentum

Angular momentum

This section covers angular momentum for rotating bodies and point masses about a specified axis.

Momentum in rotational motion

Angular momentum, LL, is the rotational counterpart of linear momentum. For a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis:

L=IωL=I\omega

where II is the moment of inertia about the chosen axis and ω\omega is the angular velocity.

Quantity Symbol Unit
Angular momentum LL kgm2s1\mathrm{kg\,m^2\,s^{-1}}
Moment of inertia II kgm2\mathrm{kg\,m^2}
Angular velocity ω\omega rads1\mathrm{rad\,s^{-1}}

Angular momentum of a point mass

For a point mass mm moving at radius rr from an axis:

I=mr2I=mr^2

and, for tangential motion,

ω=vr\omega=\frac{v}{r}

Substitution into L=IωL=I\omega gives

L=mvrL=mvr
axisrmv!

The value of angular momentum depends on the axis about which it is calculated. A moving particle can therefore have angular momentum about an axis even when its path itself is a straight line.

Exam Tip: Always identify the stated axis before calculating angular momentum. The same moving particle can have a different angular momentum when considered about a different axis.

Create a free account to continue

Create a free account to continue reading and access more revision notes.