# Homework Help: Angular momentum of time dependent particle motion

1. Apr 8, 2014

### Schulze

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A particle of mass m moves in a circle of
radius R at a constant speed v. Assume: The
motion begins from the point Q, which has
coordinates (R, 0).
Determine the angular momentum of the
particle about point P, which has coordinates
(−R, 0) as a function of time.

The answer choices can be found at: http://imgur.com/GxVLhGb

2. Relevant equations
v = Rω
L = R x p = Rpsin(θr,p) = Rmv(sinθr,p)
θf = θi + (ωit)
θf = θi + (vt/R)

3. The attempt at a solution
L1 at position Q = R x p = Rpsin(θr,p) = Rmv(sinθr,p)

L2 at position P = R x p
L2 at position P = Rpsin(-θr,p)
L2 at position P = Rmv(-sinθr,p)
L2 at position P = Rmv(sin((vt/R)+∏)))

However all answers have Rmv(____ + 1) factor. Which I do not have. Therefore I have reason to believe that my answer is incorrect.

My guess is that the answer is Rmv(sin((vt/R)+∏))+1)

2. Apr 8, 2014

### BvU

1. Make a drawing
2. Realize that L = r X p is NOT Rmv(sinθr,p) but that $\vec L= \vec r(t) \times \vec p(t)$: all the answers are vectors!
3. Make a distinction between angular momentum about the origin and angular momentum about point (-R, 0)

3. Apr 8, 2014

### Schulze

I did all those things but I thought that this site didn't want me to post a poorly drawn sketch. Furthermore, I am not very good at using Latex to make my equations look nice and bold and whatnot.

Nor am I very efficient at using this yet so bare with me.

Also, L2 will be in the opposite direction of L1; and I believe that the alternate statement for the cross product of a X b = absin(θ) accounts for this. Where a, and b are the magnitudes of the vectors of a and b.

4. Apr 8, 2014

### BvU

One thing at the time. Lets try a few simple tings:
What is the magnitude of Labout the origin at t=0 ?
What is the magnitude of Labout the origin at t=v/($\pi$R) ?

What is the magnitude of Labout P at t=0 ?
What is the magnitude of Labout P at t=v/($\pi$R) ?

Do you have an expression for $\vec r(t)$ ?

5. Apr 8, 2014

### BvU

Ah, I get the impression you have difficulty with
* interpreting r x p

What do you mean with L1 and L2 ?

6. Apr 8, 2014

### Tanya Sharma

Hello Schulze

Look at the figure attached .O is the origin.The coordinates of Q are $R \hat{i}$ whereas the coordinates of P are $-R \hat{i}$ .Let the particle be at M at any time 't' making an angle θ with the horizontal.

All you have to do is calculate $m(\vec{PM} \times \vec{v})$ .

1. First express θ in terms of v,R,t .
2. Write down the coordinates of M .
3. You already have coordinates of P given . So calculate $\vec{PM}$
4. Find the component of velocity at point M in 'x' and 'y' direction . From that express velocity vectorially .

Now perform the cross product . Be careful with trigonometric identities .You will get the elusive 1 .

#### Attached Files:

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Last edited: Apr 8, 2014
7. Apr 8, 2014

### Schulze

That impression would be correct.

A friend of mine told me the right answer but wouldn't tell me how to arrive at this result. So that that is my next aim.

Answer: L = (mvR) cos((vt/R) + 1)

8. Apr 9, 2014

### Schulze

I did it folks!

9. Apr 9, 2014

### BvU

Well, in that case we won't be needing the drawing I had already prepared when Tanya beat me to it .

For the sake of others listening in: what did you do and how did you do it ?

10. Apr 9, 2014

### Schulze

$\vec{L}$ = $\vec{r}$ $\times$ m$\vec{v}$

The angular displacement around the circle:
θ = ωt = $\frac{vt}{R}$

The vector from the center of the circle to the mass is then:
Rcos(θ)i + Rsin(θ)j (in the i and j directions)

The vector from the point P to the point of the mass is:
$\vec{r}$ = R$\hat{i}$ + Rcos(θ)$\hat{i}$ + Rsin(θ)$\hat{j}$

$\vec{r}$ = R[[1+cos($\frac{vt}{R}$)]$\hat{i}$ + sin($\frac{vt}{R}$)$\hat{j}$

The velocity vector
$\vec{v}$ = -vsin($\frac{vt}{R}$)$\hat{i}$ + vcos($\frac{vt}{R}$)$\hat{j}$

So,
$\vec{L}$ = $\vec{r}$ $\times$ m$\vec{v}$
becomes
$\vec{L}$ = m v R {[1 + cos(ω t)]$\hat{i}$ + sin(ω t)$\hat{j}$}
× [− sin(ω t)$\hat{i}$ + cos(ω t)$\hat{j}$]

= m v R {[1 + cos(ω t)] [cos(ω t)] −[sin(ωt)] [− sin(ω t)] }$\hat{k}$

= m v R [cos($\frac{vt}{R}$)] + 1]$\hat{k}$