Angular Momentum
Angular momentum is a measure of an object's rotational motion, similar to how linear momentum measures its straight-line motion. For a rigid body, it depends on the object's mass, shape, and how fast it is spinning. It can be thought of as the "quantity of rotation" an object has. Angular momentum is conserved in a closed system, meaning if no external forces act on it, the total angular momentum remains constant. This principle helps explain various phenomena, from how planets orbit to why figure skaters spin faster when they pull their arms in.
Additional Insights
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Angular momentum is a measure of the rotational motion of an object. Think of it as the "momentum" of spinning. It depends on how fast an object is rotating, its mass, and how far that mass is from the axis of rotation. For example, a figure skater spins faster by pulling their arms in; they reduce their distance from the axis, increasing their rotational speed. Angular momentum is conserved, meaning in an isolated system, the total angular momentum remains constant unless acted upon by an external force. This principle helps explain phenomena in physics, from the orbits of planets to everyday objects.