Question on conservation of angular momentum

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the conservation of angular momentum in a system involving a rotating disk and a ball following an Archimedean spiral path defined by r=αθ. Participants clarify that angular momentum is conserved in the non-inertial disk reference frame, while it is not conserved in the inertial laboratory frame due to the presence of net torque. The conclusion emphasizes that virtual forces allow for the conservation of angular momentum in the disk's frame, contradicting the initial assumption that it would be conserved in the laboratory frame.

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  • Understanding of angular momentum and its conservation laws
  • Familiarity with inertial and non-inertial reference frames
  • Knowledge of Archimedean spiral equations in polar coordinates
  • Basic mechanics concepts, including torque and virtual forces
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Jeremy1986
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Dear guys,
Recently, i am confused with a problem in my textbook of mechanics. The question is,
suppose there is a disk, placed horizontally, rotate about its center with angular velocity ω. A ball move with respect to the center of the disk in a trace of Archimedean spiral r=αθ. The angular momentum of the ball is conserved with respect to the center O. What is the real force Fθ and Fr acting on that ball ?

this is the question and the solution given in the textbook, since they are written in chinese, i translate it into english

upload_2015-12-9_16-6-29.png
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Here is my question. From the solution we can see that the θ is the angular in the disk reference system. And they use the statement that the angular momentum is constant. i don't know which reference system should this statement be applied, whether the disk-reference system which is non-inertial or the laboratory frame of reference which is inertial?

For me, i think it should be the laboratory frame of reference. and because the disk-reference system is non-inertial, so the angular momentum with respect to the disk-reference system is no longer conserved so it should not be constant anymore

sorry for the long question, i hope i explained both the question and my opinion well. thanks for your help!
 
Last edited:
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i got some idear after posting this thread :biggrin:

the statement "A ball move with respect to the center of the disk in a trace of Archimedean spiral r=αθ,"
here 'with respect to' mean r andθ is in the disk reference of frame.

the conservation of angular momentum can only happens in the disk reference of frame. because in the lab reference frame the net torque can never be zero. but in the disk reference of frame, the net torque can be zero with the help of virtual forces.
 
Jeremy1986 said:
i got some idear after posting this thread :biggrin:

the statement "A ball move with respect to the center of the disk in a trace of Archimedean spiral r=αθ,"
here 'with respect to' mean r andθ is in the disk reference of frame.

the conservation of angular momentum can only happens in the disk reference of frame. because in the lab reference frame the net torque can never be zero. but in the disk reference of frame, the net torque can be zero with the help of virtual forces.

You could see this more easily by considering the ball moving out with constant radial velocity ##v_r## relative to the disk. It's position relative to the disk is ##r = v_rt, \ \theta = 0##

In the external frame, it's position is ##r = v_rt, \ \theta = \omega t##, hence ##r = \alpha \theta## with ##\alpha = v_r/ \omega##

Or, turning this round: ##v_r = \alpha \omega##

And, its angular momentum in the external frame is ##L = mrv_{\theta} = mr^2 \omega = m \alpha^2 \omega^3 t^2##
 
PeroK said:
You could see this more easily by considering the ball moving out with constant radial velocity ##v_r## relative to the disk. It's position relative to the disk is ##r = v_rt, \ \theta = 0##

In the external frame, it's position is ##r = v_rt, \ \theta = \omega t##, hence ##r = \alpha \theta## with ##\alpha = v_r/ \omega##

Or, turning this round: ##v_r = \alpha \omega##

And, its angular momentum in the external frame is ##L = mrv_{\theta} = mr^2 \omega = m \alpha^2 \omega^3 t^2##
Thanks PeroK! I was out for the past couple of days, and sorry for the late reply. your reply enlightens me, and i think you are right.
as the statement in the question "The angular momentum of the ball is conserved with respect to the center O", we can get that f'θ in the disk-reference frame equals to 0. And this means, as you said,"the ball moving out with constant radial velocity vr relative to the disk". Thanks again for your kind help!
 
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