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Conservation of Angular Momentum

Definition

The conservation of angular momentum states that the total angular momentum of a system remains constant if no external torques act on it. In other words, the spinning motion of an object will not change unless an external force is applied.

Analogy

Imagine a figure skater performing a spin on ice. As long as the skater keeps their arms and legs close to their body, they will spin faster due to the conservation of angular momentum. However, if they extend their limbs outward, their spinning speed will decrease because they have increased their moment of inertia.

Related terms

Torque: Torque is the rotational equivalent of force and causes objects to rotate around an axis. It is calculated by multiplying the force applied to an object by its lever arm.

Moment of Inertia: The moment of inertia measures how resistant an object is to changes in its rotational motion. It depends on both the mass distribution and shape of the object.

Angular Velocity: Angular velocity refers to how fast an object rotates around an axis. It is measured in radians per second and can be calculated by dividing the angle through which an object rotates by the time taken for that rotation.