Rate of change of ##L## in a rotating coordinate system

In summary, we discussed the relationship between the time rates of a vector in an inertial frame and a co-located rotating frame. We found that there exists a relationship between the two rates, with the addition of the angular velocity vector. However, this derivation only applies when the vector is independent of the coordinate system, which is not the case for the angular momentum vector. Therefore, we cannot use the same formula for the time rate of angular momentum.
  • #1
Kashmir
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* We've a vector ##\mathbf{A}## lying in space, changing according to some rule.

* We introduce an inertial frame and find ##\left(\frac{d}{d t}
\mathbf{A} \right)_{i n}## in it.

* We also introduce a co located frame rotating with ##\mathbf{\omega}##. In this rotating frame I find ##\left(\frac{d}{d t}
\mathbf{A} \right)_{rot}##

* There exists a relationship between the two time rates as
##\left ( \frac{d\mathbf A}{dt} \right )_\text{inertial} = \left ( \frac{d\mathbf A}{dt} \right )_\text{rot} + \boldsymbol \omega \times \mathbf A##

* In all of this derivation it was assumed that the vector ##\mathbf{A}## was independent of the coordinate system. We merely observed the vector in two frames. The vector is independent of the coordinate system.----------------------------------
* Can we use the above equation on angular momentum vector ##\mathbf{L}## i.e ##\left ( \frac{d\mathbf L}{dt} \right )_\text{inertial} = \left ( \frac{d\mathbf L}{dt} \right )_\text{rot} + \boldsymbol \omega \times \mathbf L##?

I think no we can't.

In the derivation of the ##\left ( \frac{d\mathbf A}{dt} \right )_\text{inertial} = \left ( \frac{d\mathbf A}{dt} \right )_\text{rot} + \boldsymbol \omega \times \mathbf A## we assumed that the vector ##\mathbf{A}## was independent of the coordinate system, its lengths and direction in space is independent of the coordinate system.

However for ##\mathbf{L}## that isn't the case.
##\mathbf{L}## has a different length in a stationary frame than in a rotating one. So the derivation doesn't apply.
 
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  • #2
[tex]L=r \times p[/tex]
[tex]\frac{dL}{dt}=\frac{dr}{dt} \times p + r \ \times \frac{dp}{dt}[/tex]
Why don't you use this relation to check the result ?
 
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Likes vanhees71
  • #3
Of course you can use the formula. The formula refers to the time derivative of polar or axial vector components (not vectors!).
 
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