Vectors and angular momentum

by Tomsk
Tags: angular, momentum, vectors
 P: 227 I hope this is the right forum, this is mostly about maths, I'm not looking for a physical interpretation of angular momentum... yet. It also involves *some* calc... anyway... OK, firstly, I've come to the conclusion I don't get cross products. I understand the properties of them, and can use them OK, there's just something I came across that I don't get. Say you have $\vec{a}\times\vec{b}=\vec{c}$. Apparently, the magnitude of c is given by the area of the parallelogram formed by a and b. I'm ok with the product axb having units of area, but when you then go and say c has a length that is an area.... I get a bit lost. How am I supposed to interpret that? Actually, scrap the second part, I'm an idiot! Oh, and my lecturer always seemed to swap between J and L, both apparently for angular momentum. They mean the same thing, right? Or have I completely not understood anything?? I'll be back. I hate angular momentum.