WHAT IS ANGULAR

MOMENTUM?
The angular momentum of a rigid object is defined as the
product of the moment of inertia and the angular velocity.
It is analogous to linear momentum and is subject to the
fundamental constraints of the conservation of angular
momentum principle if there is no external torque on the
object. Angular momentum is a vector quantity. It is
derivable from the expression for the angular momentum
of a particle

It is Denoted by letter L.
Orbital Angular Momentum and Spin Angular Momentum
The spin angular momentum of an object is defined as the
angular momentum about its centre of mass coordinate.
The orbital angular momentum of an object about a
chosen origin is defined as the angular momentum of the
centre of mass about the origin. The total angular
momentum of an object is the sum of the spin and orbital
angular momenta.
The orbital angular momentum vector of a particle is
always parallel and directly proportional to the orbital
angular velocity vector ω of the particle, where the
constant of proportionality depends on both the mass of
the particle and its distance from the origin. However, the
spin angular momentum of the object is proportional but
not always parallel to the spin angular velocity Ω, making
the constant of proportionality a second-rank tensor rather
than a scalar.

Additive Nature

Angular momentum is additive, the total angular

momentum of any composite system is the (pseudo)
vector sum of the angular momenta of its constituent
parts. For a continuous rigid body, the total angular
momentum is the volume integral of angular momentum
density (i.e. angular momentum per unit volume in the limit
as volume shrinks to zero) over the entire body.
Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics

In quantum mechanics, angular momentum is expressed

as an operator, and its one-dimensional projections have
quantized values. Angular momentum is subject to the
Heisenberg uncertainty principle, implying that at any time,
only one projection can be measured with definite
precision; the other two then remain uncertain. Because of
this, it turns out that the notion of a quantum particle
literally "spinning" about an axis does not exist.

CONSERVATION OF
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
The law of conservation of angular momentum states that
when no external torque acts on an object, no change of
angular momentum will occur.

Seen another way angular momentum can be exchanged

between objects in a closed system, but total angular
momentum before and after an exchange remains
constant.

A rotational analog of Newton's first law of motion might be

written, "A rigid body continues in a state of uniform
rotation unless acted by an external
influence."
Thus with no external influence to act
upon it, the original angular momentum
of the system remains constant.

gyroscope remains upright while spinning due

to the conservation of its angular momentum.

WHAT CAUSES
CONSERVATION
OF ANGULAR
MOMENTUM?
Why does it happen that when an ice skater draws her
arms around, it automatically increases her rotational
speed? Of course, it is due to the decrease in her angular
momentum that increases her speed i.e. conservation of
angular momentum.

But what causes conservation?

If we look at the angular momentum of a single
particle it can also be written as,

L = 𝑚𝑣𝑟 = constant
Where m = Mass of the particle
v = Tangential velocity
r = Radius

𝑟
So, when the radius is reduced to half (2),
consequently the velocity is doubled (2𝑣) to
conserve angular momentum.
𝑟
𝑚𝑣𝑟 = 𝑚(2𝑣)( )
2
DIAGRAMATICAL
REPRESENTATION OF
CONSERVATION OF
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
● Consider fig.1, where a particle of mass 𝑚 is moving
in a circular motion around the center of rotation C,
with its distance 𝑟 from the center. The linear velocity
of the particle at any point in its uniform circular
motion is 𝑣 (a.k.a Tangential velocity) and the
centripetal force 𝐹𝑐 acting on it directing towards the
center C.

➔ When there is no external force acting on the

particle, it remains in a uniform circular motion.
As the angle between the tangential Velocity and
Centripetal force is 90°, no work is done no it and
hence 𝐹𝑐 only changes the direction of force at
every instant.
● In fig.2 when the distance 𝑟of the particle is
decreased due to some external force, it changes the
distance in a curve motion. Here, the angle between
the velocity 𝑣 and force 𝐹𝑐 is < 90° and hence the
particle is in the direction of centripetal force which
provides acceleration that eventually increases the
magnitude 𝑣 and momentum is conserved.

● In fig.3 when the distance 𝑟 of the particle is

increased, following the curve path, it will move out of
its uniform motion and the angle between the
tangential velocity 𝑣 and the centripetal force 𝐹𝑐 is
> 90°. So, the particle has to work against the
centripetal force which decreases its velocity and
momentum is conserved.
APPLICATION OF
CONSERVATION OF
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
The conservation of angular momentum helps explain
many observed phenomena :

● increase in rotational speed of a spinning figure skater

as the skater's arms are contracted, the high
rotational rate
● The solar system is another example of how
conservation of angular momentum works in our
universe. Our solar system
was born from a huge
cloud of gas and dust that
initially had rotational
energy. Gravitational
forces caused the cloud to
contract, and the rotation
rate increased as a result
of the conservation of
angular momentum

● Coriolis force
the Coriolis force is an inertial or fictitious force that
acts on objects that are in motion within a frame of
reference that rotates with respect to an inertial frame.
In a reference frame with clockwise rotation, the force
acts to the left of the motion of the object. In one with
anticlockwise (or counterclockwise) rotation, the force
acts to the right. The deflection of an object due to the
Coriolis force is called the Coriolis effect.