Is Intrinsic Angular Momentum a Valid Term for Classical Rotation?

[Barkan]

Hi All,

According to some textbook, angular momentum can be represented as follows;

L = rxP + I*W

r is position from the origin, P is translational momentum, I is inertia tensor and W is angular velocity. Is it possible to call I*W part as intrinsic angular momentum?

Thanks

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi Barkan!

(have an omega: ω )

L = rxP + I*W

r is position from the origin, P is translational momentum, I is inertia tensor and W is angular velocity. Is it possible to call I*W part as intrinsic angular momentum?

(where r is the position of the centre of mass, and I is the tensor about the centre of mass?)

That's what I'd call it … but I don't know whether it's the accepted name.

 

[Meir Achuz]

I think "intrinsic angular momentum" just refers to quantum mechanical spin, not classical rotation.

 

[Barkan]

yes tiny, symbols are referring the way you define.

some people were criticizing me for using this term. the problem is how i am supposed to name I*W then? It is not 'angular momentum' because the term angular momentum includes other terms as written above. roy featherstone refers it as 'intrinsic' in his rigid body dynamics algorithm textbook.

any good ideas to name 'I*W' term?

 

[tiny-tim]

I think "intrinsic angular momentum" just refers to quantum mechanical spin, not classical rotation.

some people were criticizing me for using this term.

Meir and those people have a good point.

However, there ought to be a name for it, and "intrinsic angular momentum" does seem apt.

The alternative is "spin angular momentum" or just "spin" (with the other component being "orbital angular momentum") … but "spin" also could be said to refer to quantum mechanical spin.

… roy featherstone refers it as 'intrinsic' in his rigid body dynamics algorithm textbook.

I didn't know that … maybe it'll catch on?