Moment of Inertia: Kinetic Energy, Momentum & Conservation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of kinetic energy, momentum, and angular momentum in the context of rotating bodies, specifically focusing on the moment of inertia and its implications for conservation laws. The scope includes theoretical explanations and clarifications of these physical concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the formula for kinetic energy of a rotating body and questions the relationship between linear momentum and angular momentum, suggesting that angular momentum should simply be the sum of the momenta of all particles.
  • Another participant clarifies that the total linear momentum and total angular momentum are distinct concepts, emphasizing the difference between linear and rotational kinetic energy as scalar quantities versus angular momentum as a vector quantity.
  • There is a suggestion to explore vector formulas for momentum to gain a better understanding of the differences between linear and angular momentum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between linear momentum and angular momentum, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved regarding the interpretation of these concepts.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not reached a consensus on the definitions and relationships between linear and angular momentum, nor on the conservation of angular momentum in this context.

GeneralOJB
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I read that for a rotating body the kinetic energy ##E_k = \sum \frac{1}{2}mv^2 = \frac{1}{2}{\omega}^2∑mr^2 = \frac{1}{2}I{\omega}^2## where ##I## is the moment of inertia.

If we did the same thing for momentum then ##P = ∑mv = \omega\sum mr##

So why is angular momentum ##I\omega=\omega\sum mr^2##? Shouldn't the momentum just be the sum of the momentum of all the particles, like we did with kinetic energy?

Also why should I believe that this quantity ##I\omega## is conserved?
 
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Use LaTeX :smile:
##E_k = \sum\frac{1}{2}mv^2 = \frac{1}{2}\sum m(\omega r)^2 = \frac{1}{2}\omega^2\sum mr^2 = \frac{1}{2}I\omega^2##
 
Ah, didn't know we had LaTeX.
 
GeneralOJB said:
Shouldn't the momentum just be the sum of the momentum of all the particles.
That would be the total linear momentum, not the total angular momentum.

Note that linear and rotational kinetic energy are both of the same physical scalar quantity. While linear and angular momentum are two different vector quantities. You should look at the vector formulas for momentum to understand it better.
 

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