Component of angular momentum perpendicular to rotation axis

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The discussion focuses on the angular momentum of a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis that does not align with its principal axes of inertia. It examines the components of angular momentum, specifically the parallel component (L_z) and the perpendicular component (L_n), raising questions about the calculation of L_n and its dependency on the chosen point of reference. The relationship between L_n and the angular velocity (ω) is explored, suggesting that L_n is proportional to ω if ω is constant. The conversation also touches on the effects of external torque on L_n when the magnitude of ω changes while maintaining its direction. Overall, the participants emphasize the importance of correctly calculating angular momentum components and their dependencies on the chosen reference frame.
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Consider the rotation of a rigid body about a fixed axis z, not passing through a principal axis of inertia of the body. The angular momentum \vec{L} has a parallel component to the z axis (called \vec{L_z}) and a component perpendicular to it (called \vec{L_n}). I have some doubts on \vec{L_n}.
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From the picture we have that, taking a singular point of the rigid body P_i,

\mid \vec{L_{n,i}}\mid=m_i r_i R_i \omega cos\theta_i\implies \mid \vec{L_n}\mid=\omega \sum m_i r_i R_i cos\theta_i

Is this correct? Now the quantity \sum m_i r_i R_i cos\theta_i depends on the point O used for the calculation of momenta, nevertheless it is a costant quantity, once calculated, right?

So is it possible to say that \mid \vec{L_n}\mid \propto \mid \vec{\omega} \mid (1)?

If \vec{\omega} is constant then there is an external torque \vec{\tau}=\frac{d\vec{L}}{dt}=\frac{d\vec{L_n}}{dt}=\vec{\omega}\times\vec{L_n}, perpendicular both to \vec{\omega} and \vec{L_n}.

Now suppose that the direction of \vec{\omega} is still the same (the axis is fixed) but \mid\vec{\omega}\mid changes. Then the external torque has two components. For the component parallel to the axis we can write \vec{\tau_z}=\frac{d\vec{L_z}}{dt}=I_z \vec{\alpha}, once calculated the moment of inertia I_z with respect to the axis of rotation, while for the orthogonal component we have \vec{\tau_n}=\frac{d\vec{L_n}}{dt}, but what are the characteristics of the component \vec{L_n} in that case?

If (1) holds then \frac{d\mid \vec{L_n} \mid}{dt} \propto \mid \vec{\alpha} \mid

But what about the direction of \vec{L_n} and of its derivative?
 
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So, just to clear this up, we're calculating the angular momentum about an axis other than the axis it's rotating about? If that's the case, I think you're missing a trig function. One for the ##r_i cos(\theta_I) ## and another for ##R_i ## chunk. I might be misunderstanding what you're trying to do here, however.
Regardless, if you start from ##I = \int_B r^2dm##, and you calculate that about an axis, that should give you the proper results for any scenario, it's just that some are easier to calculate than others.
 
For simple comparison, I think the same thought process can be followed as a block slides down a hill, - for block down hill, simple starting PE of mgh to final max KE 0.5mv^2 - comparing PE1 to max KE2 would result in finding the work friction did through the process. efficiency is just 100*KE2/PE1. If a mousetrap car travels along a flat surface, a starting PE of 0.5 k th^2 can be measured and maximum velocity of the car can also be measured. If energy efficiency is defined by...

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