Conservation of linear momentum and rotational motion

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conservation of linear momentum and its relationship to rotational motion, particularly in the context of a door or rod that rotates about a hinge when struck by an object. Participants explore how linear momentum is conserved in such systems and how it relates to angular momentum during collisions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question how linear momentum is conserved when a door rotates after being struck, noting that the hinge exerts an external force that complicates the conservation laws.
  • Others argue that if the system is expanded to include the hinge and wall, linear momentum can be considered conserved in the larger system.
  • A participant suggests that the ball possesses angular momentum about the hinge even before the collision, which contributes to the door's rotation.
  • Some participants emphasize that during the collision, the energy and momentum of the ball are transferred to the door, resulting in rotational motion.
  • There is a discussion about the role of constraints, such as the hinge, in analyzing the motion of the door and how it affects the conservation of momentum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the conservation of momentum in this scenario, with some asserting that linear momentum is not conserved due to external forces, while others propose that it can be conserved when considering the entire system. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of how linear momentum translates into angular momentum.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of the system involving external forces and constraints, which may affect the conservation laws. There is also mention of the need for a broader system definition to fully understand momentum conservation.

kavan
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When you open a door you apply force in any particular direction and as a result you get rotational motion of the door. My question is how linear momentum is conserved in this case as linear momentum seems to have generated rotational motion? To clarify my question further, if we fix a rod from one end such that it can freely rotate about that end and then hit another end of the rod with a speeding ball with some linear momentum along any direction(say x).. the momentum will be transferred to the rod which will start to rotate...now the rotating rod will have linear momentum with components in both directions(say x and y). How did the momentum along the y direction come into picture when originaly there was none?8
 
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kavan said:
When you open a door you apply force in any particular direction and as a result you get rotational motion of the door. My question is how linear momentum is conserved in this case

Linear momentum is conserved in a closed system as long as there are no external forces on the system. In the case of a hinged door or rod there is an external force from the hinge.

How did the momentum along the y direction come into picture when originaly there was none?

The force from the hinge has a component in the y direction.
 
jbriggs444 said:
Linear momentum is conserved in a closed system as long as there are no external forces on the system. In the case of a hinged door or rod there is an external force from the hinge.
We can include the external force within the system by suitably expanding it. Imagine collision case, a ball hitting the door makes one system on which there are no external force.
jbriggs444 said:
The force from the hinge has a component in the y direction.
Didnt get that. If originally there were no momentum in y direction from where the momentum in y direction comes once the door starts rotating.
 
The hinge connects the door to... what exactly? If you are expand the system to include the wall the hinge is screwed into then you have to include the motion of the wall in your calculations.
 
Plz see the screenshot attached. How did linear momentum of the ball converted into angular momentum of the rotating road. I hope I've clarified my question.
 

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kavan said:
How did linear momentum of the ball converted into angular momentum of the rotating road.
Even before the collision, the ball has angular momentum about the hinge. Angular momentum is conserved during the collision. (Linear momentum is not. As already pointed out, you cannot ignore the force of the hinge on the door.)
 
jbriggs444 said:
The hinge connects the door to... what exactly? If you are expand the system to include the wall the hinge is screwed into then you have to include the motion of the wall in your calculations.
And the wall is attached to the building. And the building is attached to the earth.

Linear momentum is conserved in the door, wall, building, Earth system.

Now excuse me. I hear my Noether calling.
 
As for converting linear to angular momentum you have to know that everything that has linear momentum has angular momentum too and the other way round.

When it comes to the collision the energy of the ball is given to the door as momentum. The only motion that the door can perform is a rotation and therefore all of the energy goes in it. During the rotation the door's linear momentum is conserved within the system door-hinge. The angular momentum is conserved for itself in the rotation.

When you calculate it you will see that the angular momentum of the ball in relation to a random point is the same as the angular momentum of the door related to the same point.

The linear momentum of the rotating door cannot be described so well using Newtonian mechanics. Instead you need the term of constraints since the hinge is a constraint for the door.
 

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