WEEK 6
SECOND GRADING
GENERAL PHYSICS 1
ANGULAR MOMENTUM AND ITS CONSERVATION, ROTATIONAL WORK AND
KINETIC ENERGY
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
If the rotational equivalent of force is torque, which is the moment of the force, the
rotational equivalent of linear momentum (p) is angular momentum (L), which is the moment of
momentum. Like linear momentum, angular momentum is also a vector quantity; it has
magnitude and direction. It is defined as the product of the moment of inertia of a rotating body
and its angular velocity. In equation form, this is given as
L=Iω
The unit of angular momentum is kg. m2/ s. If an object is small compared with the radial
distance to its axis of rotation, the angular momentum is equal to the magnitude of its linear
momentum mv, multiplied by the radial distance r. in equation form,
L=mvr
The velocity is always perpendicular to radial distance. Otherwise L = r x p = mr x v. The
angular momentum of an object, such as a stone swinging from a long string, or a planet
circling the sun, can be determined using the equation L =mvr. This shows that the angular
momentum is directly proportional to the linear momentum and the radius.
In the absence of a net external torque, the total angular momentum of a system is conserved.
The initial angular momentum (Lo) of the system is equal to its final angular momentum (L). In
symbols,
I O ωO =Iω
The table below shows the concept of momentum for linear and rotational situations.
Kinematic Equations for Linear and Angular Momentum
Linear Angular
∆v ∆ω
F=ma=m τ =Iα=I
∆t ∆t
v f −vi ω f −ωi
F=m( ) τ =I ( )
∆t ∆t
mv f −mv i Iωf −Iωi
F= τ=
∆t ∆t
pf − pi L f −Li
¿ ¿
∆t ∆t
∆p ∆L
F= τ=
∆t ∆t
Sample Problems:
What is the angular momentum of a 250-g stone being whirled by a slingshot at a tangential
velocity of 6 m/s, if the length of slingshot is 30 cm?
Given: m = 250 g = 0.25 kg
v = 6 m/s
r = 30 cm = 0.30 m
Find: L`
Solution: L = mvr
= (0.25 kg)(6 m/s)(0.30 m)
L = 0.45 kg. m2/ s
CONSERVATION OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM
If no net force acts on a system, we know that the linear momentum of this system is
conserved. Angular momentum is also conserved for systems in rotation. The law of
conservation of angular momentum states that: in the absence of an unbalanced external torque,
the angular momentum of a system remains constant.
A spinning ice skater or a ballet dancer has angular momentum. To maintain her angular
momentum and at the same time spin faster, she pulls her arms in to decrease her radius of spin.
In doing this, her angular momentum is conserved as she spins faster on her axis.
Angular momentum also does not change in the case of a gymnast who spins freely with
no unbalanced torques on his or her body.
Another example is a trampoline performer. He jumps up, spinning slowly with his body
fully extended. Then he tucks his body into a ball shape and starts to spin rapidly. This
decreases his moment of inertia, thereby increasing his speed of rotation ω. His angular
momentum then remains the same as it was before.
Conservation of angular momentum applies also to objects moving in any path or simply
spinning about an axis. In the case of a platform driver, the only external force is that due to
gravity; there is no external torque acting on the driver. Hence, his angular momentum is
conserved. The driver increases his angular velocity by decreasing his moment of inertia. He
does this ‘tucking in’. This allows him to flip rapidly. As he comes out of the tucked position to
plunge into the water, his angular speed decreases.
ROTATIONAL WORK AND KINETIC ENERGY
Work done in rotation is the product or torque and angular displacement. Power is work
done divided by time.
W =τθ
W
P=
t
The kinetic energy of a rotating rigid body (KR) is
1
K R= Iω2
2
For a rolling body, the total kinetic energy (KT) is the sum of its translational kinetic
energy (K) and rotational kinetic energy (KR). In symbols,
1 1
K T =K + K R= mv 2+ Iω2
2 2
SAMPLE PROBLEM
When you open the lid of your spin dryer, a retarding torque of 12.5 m. N stops the dryer after 8
rev. (a) How much work is done by the torque to stop the dryer? (b) If the dryer stops after 4.0
s, how much power is done by the stopping device that provided the torque?
Solution:
We are given the following:
τ =12.5 m. N ,θ=8 rev ,∧t=4.0 s . First , we need ¿ convert 8 rev ¿ radians .
6.28 radians
θ=8 rev x =50.24 radians
1 rev
a. W =τθ=( 12.5m . N )( 50.24 radians ) =628 J
W 628 J
b. P= t = 4.0 s =157 W
