Name: Iqra Saleem

Roll No: bsf 1904879

Program: BS Mathematics (2nd semester)
Subject: Mechanics -II
Topic: Derive the expression of angular Momentum of
rigid body and also show that it holds the law of
conservation of momentum
Submitted to: Ms. Shazeen
 Angular Momentum of rigid body

 Angular momentum:
The vector product of position vector of a rotating body about
an axis of rotation and linear momentum of that body is called
angular momentum. It is represented by L.
L=r×p
 Rigid body:
The body whose points remain fixed when a force is applied is
called a rigid body.
 Explanation:
Consider a rigid body that rotates about a fixed axis as shown in
figure. The fixed axis of rotation is a z axis, and the body rotates
about it with constant angular speed ω.
The angular momentum can be found by summing the z
components of the angular momenta of the mass elements in
the body. In figure, a typical mass element, of mass ∆mi, moves
around the z axis in a circular path. The position of the mass
element is located relative to the origin O by position vector ri.
The radius of the mass element’s circular path is r┴i the
perpendicular distance between the element and the z axis.
The magnitude of the angular momentum li of this mass
element, with respect to O, is
li =(ri)(pi)(sin 90°) = (ri)(∆mi vi)
where pi and vi are the linear momentum and linear speed of
the mass element, and 90° is the angle between ri and pi. The
angular momentum li for the mass element as shown in figure,
its direction must be perpendicular to those of ri and pi.
 The z Components
The component of li that is parallel to the rotation axis, here the
z axis. That z component is
liz = li sin θ = (ri sin θ)(∆mi vi) =r i ∆mi vi
┴

The z component of the angular momentum for the rotating

rigid body as a whole is found by adding up the contributions of
all the mass elements that make up the body. Thus, because
V=r ω . . . . . . . we can write
n n n

LZ = ∑ l iz = ∑ ∆ mi viri = ∑ ∆mi( ωri )ri

i=1 i=1 i=1

= ω (∑ ∆mi r2i) . . . . . . . . .(i)

i=1
We can remove v from the summation here because it has the
same value for all points of the rotating rigid body.
n

The quantity∑ ∆mi r2i in Eq (i) is the rotational inertia I of the

i=1

body about the fixed axis. Thus, the equation for the angular
momentum of rigid body rotating about the fixed axis is
L=I ω
 Conservation of Angular Momentum:
According to Newtons 2nd law in angular form:
τnet = dL/dt
If no net external torque acts on the system, this equation
becomes
0 = dL/dt
Or L = a constant
This result, called the law of conservation of angular
momentum, can also be written as
(net angular momentum at some initial time t i )=(net angular
momentum at some later time tf )
Or Li = Lf
By this equation the definition of law of conservation of angular
momentum becomes:
If the net external torque acting on a system is zero, the
angular momentum L of the system remains constant, no
matter what changes take place within the system.