Finding the magnitude of an object's angular momentum about the origin.

Click For Summary
To find the magnitude of an object's angular momentum about the origin, the correct approach involves using the cross product of the position vector and the velocity vector. The position vector for the object is 2.00i + 3.10j, and the velocity vector, given the angle of 45 degrees, has equal components of approximately 3.4648 m/s. The angular momentum is calculated as L = m * r x v, resulting in a magnitude of approximately 5.3 kg m²/s. The discussion highlights the importance of correctly identifying the vectors and performing the cross product to arrive at the accurate answer. The final result confirms the calculated angular momentum magnitude.
penguinnnnnx5
Messages
36
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A 1.4 kg object at x = 2.00 m, y = 3.10 m moves at 4.9 m/s at an angle 45° north of east. Calculate the magnitude of the object's angular momentum about the origin.

Answer is 5.3 kg m^2 /s

Homework Equations


These were the only three I could think of:
L=Iω
L=mvr
ω=v/r

The Attempt at a Solution



First attempt:

L=mvr

L= (1.4)(4.9)sqrt(4+3.1^2)

L=25.3077, not the right answer

Second attempt:

Diagram here.
I tried to find the tangential velocity as shown:

∠2 = arctan (3.10/2.00) = 57.17°

Vtan = 4.9cos(45) / cos(57.17) = 6.390914 m/s

ω=v/r=6.390914/Sqrt(4+3.1^2) = 1.73234 rad/s

Then I'm not really sure how to proceed after this because I'm not entirely sure what equation to use for I.

Third attempt:

Vtan=v ∴

L=1.4(6.390914)(sqrt(4+3.1^2) = 8.94728 m/s, not the right answer

Is my diagram wrong or am I missing something very important?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
penguinnnnnx5 said:

Homework Statement


A 1.4 kg object at x = 2.00 m, y = 3.10 m moves at 4.9 m/s at an angle 45° north of east. Calculate the magnitude of the object's angular momentum about the origin.

Answer is 5.3 kg m^2 /s

Homework Equations


These were the only three I could think of:
L=Iω
L=mvr
ω=v/r

The Attempt at a Solution



First attempt:

L=mvr

L= (1.4)(4.9)sqrt(4+3.1^2)

L=25.3077, not the right answer

Second attempt:

Diagram here.
I tried to find the tangential velocity as shown:

∠2 = arctan (3.10/2.00) = 57.17°

Vtan = 4.9cos(45) / cos(57.17) = 6.390914 m/s

ω=v/r=6.390914/Sqrt(4+3.1^2) = 1.73234 rad/s

Then I'm not really sure how to proceed after this because I'm not entirely sure what equation to use for I.

Third attempt:

Vtan=v ∴

L=1.4(6.390914)(sqrt(4+3.1^2) = 8.94728 m/s, not the right answer

Is my diagram wrong or am I missing something very important?

The magnitude of the angular momentum is L=mvr sin(theta), theta is the angle between the position vector and velocity.. Find theta. You almost have done.

The angular momentum is the vector (cross-) product of the position vector with the linear momentum. \vec L = m\vec r \times\vec v.You have the position vector 2\vec i +3.1 \vec j. You can write up the velocity vector with its components, perform the product and determine the magnitude of the vector L
ehild
 
There was a response about finding the cross product of mr x v. I did this already, but I guess I made some small mistake the first time around. I have found the correct answer. Thank you whoever you are (I forgot your username, but I remember it was something like ehlib.
 
It was me, but I changed my post after I saw your drawing. So all is good at last :smile:

ehild
 
ehild said:
The magnitude of the angular momentum is L=mvr sin(theta), theta is the angle between the position vector and velocity.. Find theta. You almost have done.

The angular momentum is the vector (cross-) product of the position vector with the linear momentum. \vec L = m\vec r \times\vec v.You have the position vector 2\vec i +3.1 \vec j. You can write up the velocity vector with its components, perform the product and determine the magnitude of the vector L



ehild

Yes, I saw that earlier... I also tried doing that the first time around; however, I must have made a minor mistake somewhere because I found the correct answer using this method. Thank you very much! Here is my work for those looking for the solution:

Position vector is:
2.00i + 3.10 j

Multiply that by m=1.4 kg, which gives:

2.89i + 4.34 j

Then you must find the x and y components of the velocity. Since it is at a 45-degree angle, both components are equal to each other:

4.9(cos 45) = 3.4648 m/s

Which gives us the velocity vector:

3.4648i + 3.4648j

You then find the cross product of mr x v which will give L = -5.335792.
Since it's asking for magnitude, the answer is 5.335792.
 
Thank you very much, sir. :)
 
You are welcome!
You get the same result from L=mrvsin(theta)

ehild
 

Attachments

  • angular momentum.JPG
    angular momentum.JPG
    6.7 KB · Views: 1,011
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
878
  • · Replies 54 ·
2
Replies
54
Views
4K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
18
Views
7K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K