Angular momentum of a rigid body

In summary, angular momentum is a physical quantity that describes the rotational motion of a rigid body and is calculated by multiplying the moment of inertia with the angular velocity. It differs from linear momentum as it takes into account both the mass and distance from the axis of rotation. The formula for calculating angular momentum is L = Iω. The conservation of angular momentum applies to rigid bodies, stating that the total angular momentum of a system remains constant if there are no external torques. Angular momentum also affects the stability of a rigid body, with a larger angular momentum leading to greater stability and resistance to changes in rotational motion.
  • #1
karlo1961
1
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The angular momentum of a rigid body is often calculated into different coordinate systems. One is an inertial system and the other is a body system moving with the rigid body. Now, in the body system the rigid body is at rest and has no movement at all. How is it that it can still have a non-zero angular momentum the body system.
 
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  • #2
Typically, the "system moving with the rigid body" is a system in which the center of mass is always at (0,0,0), not one that is rotating with the body!
 

1. What is angular momentum?

Angular momentum is a physical quantity that describes the rotational motion of a rigid body. It is defined as the product of the body's moment of inertia and its angular velocity.

2. How is angular momentum different from linear momentum?

Linear momentum refers to the motion of an object in a straight line, while angular momentum refers to the motion of an object in a circular or rotational path. Angular momentum takes into account both the object's mass and its distance from the axis of rotation.

3. What is the formula for calculating angular momentum?

The formula for calculating angular momentum is L = Iω, where L represents angular momentum, I represents moment of inertia, and ω represents angular velocity.

4. How does the conservation of angular momentum apply to rigid bodies?

The law of conservation of angular momentum states that the total angular momentum of a system remains constant as long as there are no external torques acting on the system. This means that if a rigid body is rotating in a vacuum, its angular momentum will remain constant.

5. How does angular momentum affect the stability of a rigid body?

Angular momentum plays a crucial role in the stability of a rigid body. A body with a larger angular momentum will be more stable and less likely to deviate from its path of rotation. This is because a larger angular momentum means a greater resistance to changes in rotational motion.

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