Physics I

Class 15

Conservation of
Angular Momentum

Rev. 09-Oct-04 GB
15-1
 Angular Momentum of a Particle
Review

center of rotation (defined) A n g u la r m o m e n tu m o f a p a r tic le

o n c e a c e n te r is d e fin e d :
   
r   l  rp
p  mv
( W h a t is th e d ir e c tio n o f a n g u la r
m o m e n tu m h e r e ? )

Once we define a center (or axis) of rotation, any object with a

linear momentum that does not move directly through that point
has an angular momentum defined relative to the chosen center.

15-2
 Angular Momentum of a Particle
Angular Momentum of an Object

F o r a s o l i d o b j e c t , e a c h a t o m h a s i t s o w n a n g u l a r m o m e n t u m :
   
l i  ri  p i  ri  ( m i v i)
T h e d ire c tio n is th e s a m e a s th e d ire c tio n o f a n g u la r v e lo c ity .
T h e m a g n itu d e is
     2
| l i |  | r i | | p i | sin(  )  m i | ri | | v i |  m i ri  ri   m i ri
so
  2
l i  m i ri
T h e to ta l a n g u la r m o m e n tu m , s u m m in g a ll a to m s , is
   
  2
L  l i   m i ri  I 

15-3
 How Does Angular Momentum of
a Particle Change with Time?
Take the time
 derivative of angular momentum:
 
d l d   d r   dp
 (r  p)   p  r 
dt dt dt dt
Find each term separately:

dr   
 p  v p  0 (Why?)
dt

 dp   
r  r  Fnet  net (Why?)
dt
so 
dl 
 net (Newton’s 2nd Law for angular momentum.)
dt

15-4
 Angular Momentum of a Particle:
Does It Change if  = 0?
Y  
(0,0) p
mv
=1k
gm/
s (
+Xd
i
r.
)
 X
 r The figure at the left shows the same
r (red) particle at two different times. No forces
(blue)
(or torques) act on the particle.
(0,–3) (4,–3) Is its angular momentum constant?
(Check magnitudes at the two times.)
B
l
uea
n
gl
e
:=
90
º
l
=rp
s
in
()
=
(3
)
(1
)s
i
n(
90
º
)=3
k
gm/
s
2

R
e
da
ng
le
:
=a
rc
t
an
(3
/
4)
=36
.
87
º
l
=r
ps
in
(
)=
(5
)
(1
)s
i
n(
36
.
87
º)
=3k
g
m/
s
2

 
[
rs
i
n(
)
]i
st
hec
o
mp
on
e
nt
ofra
t
ari
gh
ta
ng
l
et
op.I
ti
sc
on
s
t
an
t.
I
ti
sa
ls
ot
hed
i
s
ta
nc
e
at
cl
os
es
t
app
r
oa
c
ht
ot
hec
e
nt
e
r.

15-5
 Conservation of
Angular Momentum
Take (for exam
 ple) two rotating objects that interact.
dl1  
 on1from2  exton1
dt
dl 2  
 on2 from1  exton2
dt
The total angular
 m omentum
 is the sum of 1 and 2:
dL d l 1 d l 2  
   exton1  exton2 (Why?)
dt dt dt
If there are 
no external torques, then
dL
0
dt
15-6
 Example 1

A n ic e s k a te r s p in s a t 6 ra d /s e c w ith o u t-s tre tc h e d h a n d s .

H e r r o ta tio n a l in e r tia is 1 .5 k g m 2 . S h e th e n p u lls h e r a r m s
in , th e r e b y c h a n g in g h e r r o ta tio n a l in e r tia l to 1 .2 k g m 2.
W h a t is h e r a n g u la r s p e e d n o w ?
N o e x te rn a l to rq u e , s o L re m a in s c o n s ta n t
I before  before  L  I after  after

I before  1 .5  6
 after  before
  7 .5 ra d /s e c
I after 1 .2

15-7
 Example 2

A w h e e l is ro ta tin g fre e ly w ith a n a n g u la r s p e e d o f 3 0 ra d /s e c o n

a s h a ft w h o s e ro ta tio n a l in e rtia is n e g lig ib le . A s e c o n d w h e e l,
in itia lly a t re s t a n d w ith tw ic e th e ro ta tio n a l in e rtia o f th e firs t is
s u d d e n ly c o u p le d to th e s a m e s h a ft. W h a t is th e a n g u la r s p e e d o f
th e re s u lta n t c o m b in a tio n o f th e s h a ft a n d tw o w h e e ls ?
N o e x te rn a l to rq u e , s o L re m a in s c o n s ta n t
I1  before  L  I1  after  I2  after

I 1  before I  1  30
 after   1 before   10 r a d / s e c
I1  I2 I1  2 I1 3

15-8
 Class #15
Take-Away Concepts
  
1. Angular momentumof aparticle(review): l rp.
2. Newton’s 2nd Lawfor angular momentum:

dl 
net
dt
3. Conservationof angular momentum(noext. torque):

dL
0
dt

15-9
 Class #15
Problems of the Day

___1. When a woman on a frictionless rotating turntable extends

her arms out horizontally, her angular momentum:
A. must increase
B. must decrease
C. must remain the same
D. may increase or decrease depending on her initial
angular velocity
E. changes into kinetic energy

15-10
 Class #15
Problems of the Day
CHALLENGE PROBLEM
2. Two ice skaters of equal mass perform the following trick:
Skater A is at rest on the ice while skater B approaches. As skater
B passes by at 10 m/s, his center of mass is 1.8 m from skater A’s
center of mass at the instant of closest approach. At that instant,
the skaters reach out and clasp each other’s hands.
Find the rotational speed of the skaters, find the speed of their
center of mass, and describe the subsequent path of the center of
mass in terms of geometric shape.
Treat the skaters as point masses and ignore the friction of the
skates on the ice.

15-11
 Activity #15 - Conservation of
Angular Momentum

Objective of the Activity:

1. Think about conservation of angular momentum.

2. Use conservation of momentum to predict the
change in rotational speed in a simple system.
3. Compare measurements with predictions.

15-12