Exploring the Relationship Between Angular Momentum and Cross Products

In summary, angular momentum is a measure of an object's rotational motion, calculated by multiplying its moment of inertia and angular velocity. The conservation of angular momentum states that it remains constant in a closed system without external torque. It differs from linear momentum, which is a measure of linear motion and depends on an object's mass and velocity. Angular momentum is used in physics to describe rotational motion and is important in various fields such as mechanics, fluid dynamics, and quantum mechanics.
  • #1
CrazyNeutrino
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Can someone please explain why angular momentum involves a cross product?

Why is it r x p and not r . P
Why a cross product and not a dot product?
 
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  • #2
Hi,
Angular momentum involves a perpendicular direction, i.e. in general when you take direction into account, it should be a cross product. In dot product no direction.
Cheers, Rajini
 
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What is angular momentum?

Angular momentum is a measure of an object's rotational motion. It is defined as the product of an object's moment of inertia and its angular velocity.

How is angular momentum calculated?

Angular momentum is calculated by multiplying an object's moment of inertia (a measure of its resistance to rotation) by its angular velocity (a measure of how fast it is rotating).

What is the conservation of angular momentum?

The conservation of angular momentum states that in a closed system, the total angular momentum remains constant. This means that if no external torque is applied, the angular momentum of the system will remain the same.

What is the difference between angular momentum and linear momentum?

Angular momentum is a measure of rotational motion, while linear momentum is a measure of linear motion. Angular momentum depends on an object's moment of inertia and angular velocity, while linear momentum depends on an object's mass and linear velocity.

How is angular momentum used in physics?

Angular momentum is used in physics to describe the rotational motion of objects, such as planets orbiting the sun or electrons orbiting an atom. It is also an important concept in the fields of mechanics, fluid dynamics, and quantum mechanics.

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