GEEKSFORGEEKS

Torque and Angular Momentum

For a rigid body, motion is generally both
rotational and translation. If the body is fixed
at one point, the motion is usually rotational.
It is known that force is needed to change the
translatory state of the body and to provide it
with linear acceleration. Torque and angular
momentum are rotational equivalents of
force and momentum. These entities help us
change the rotational state of the body.
Torques and angular momentum are very
useful and are encountered almost
everywhere in daily life. The power of the
engine and motors is measured by torque.
So, while studying any rigid body, it is
essential to understand the concepts of
torque and angular momentum. Let’s look at
these concepts in detail. 

Torque

Torque is analogous to the force in the case

of rotational motion. Consider an example of
a door. The position of the door is fixed, it
can only rotate around its axis. Then what
causes the door to rotate? Force is required,
but the force applied to the hinge of the door
does not work. So, it is not the force alone,
the position to which it is applied matters
too. 

In rotational motion, the analogous force is

torque. This is also called the moment of
force. This causes angular acceleration in the
body, which means forcing to change the
rotational state of the body. Let a particle P
be located far from the origin at a point
whose position vector is given by  . If the
force F is acting on the particle, the moment
of force is given by, 

Since the cross-product is involved, it is a

vector quantity. The magnitude of the torque
is given by, 

Here, “r” is the magnitude of the position

vector, and θ is the angle between the
position vector and force. In the formula, the
part “rsinθ” is the perpendicular distance of
the force from the axis of the rigid body. 

Dimensions of torque are given by

ML2T-2. These are also dimensions of

energy but, these quantities should not
be confused as similar. They are very
di"erent quantities.The unit of torque is
N-m.

Angular Momentum of Particle

It has been mentioned that torque is

analogous to force. In the same way, angular
momentum is analogous to linear
momentum. This is also a vector product
similar to its counterpart torque. Consider a
particle P with the linear momentum “p”
and a position vector with respect to the
origin O. The angular momentum of the
particle is denoted by “L”,

L=r×p 

The magnitude of angular momentum will be

given by, 

L = rpsinθ 

Where r and p are the magnitudes of the

position vector and linear momentum
respectively. The angle θ is the angle between
the position vector and the linear
momentum. Here also “rsin(θ)” is the
perpendicular angle between the momentum
and the position vector. 

Relationship between Angular

Momentum and Torque

The relationship between the angular

momentum and torque is similar to the
relationship between the force and the
momentum. Force is the change in
momentum of the particle. Similarly, torque
is the change in angular momentum of the
particle. Di"erentiating the formula for the
angular momentum, 

Applying the product rule for

di"erentiation, 

Now,   is the velocity of the particle, but

since it is in the same direction as the
momentum, 

r x   = 0

So, now the equation becomes, 

 represents the force F, 

Earn $3.5 per

answer
Make money from answering simple
questions. We pay you in cash. Simple
and fun.

MetroOpinion

Thus, this proves that the rate of change of

angular momentum is given by torque. 

Sample Problems

Question 1: Find out the torque on the door if

a force of 10N is applied on the door 0.5m
from the hinge. 

Answer: 

Torque is given by, 

Where r is the perpendicular distance of

the force from the rotational axis. 

Given: r = 0.5m and F = 10N. 

Plugging the values in the equation, 

Question 2: Find out the torque on the door

if a force of 20N is applied on the door 0.3m
from the hinge. 

Answer: 

Torque is given by, 

Where r is the perpendicular distance of

the force from the rotational axis. 

Given: r = 0.3m and F = 20N. 

Plugging the values in the equation, 

Question 3: A body is revolving around an

axis in a circular motion with a radius of
0.1m, the momentum of the body is given by
50 Kgm/s. Find the angular momentum of
the body. 

Answer: 

Angular momentum of a body is given

by, 

l=r×p

Where r is the perpendicular distance of

the force from the rotational axis and p
is the linear momentum.  

Given: r = 0.3m and p = 50Kgm/s. 

Plugging the values in the equation, 

l = r xp 

l =0.3 × 50 

l = 15

Question 4: A body is revolving around an

axis in a circular motion with a radius of
0.2m, the momentum of the body is given by
70 Kg/s. Find the angular momentum of the
body. 

Answer: 

Angular momentum of a body is given

by, 

l=r×p

Where r is the perpendicular distance of

the force from the rotational axis and p
is the linear momentum.  

Given: r = 0.2m and p =70 Kg/s. 

Plugging the values in the equation, 

l = r × p 

l =0.2 × 70 

l = 14

Question 5: A body is revolving around an

axis in a circular motion with a radius of
0.2m, the momentum of the body is given by
70 Kg/s.  A torque is applied on the body for
2 seconds and the momentum becomes
120Kgm/s. Find the torque applied to the
body. 

Answer: 

Angular momentum of a body is given

by, 

l=r×p

Where r is the perpendicular distance of

the force from the rotational axis and p
is the linear momentum.  

Rate of Change in angular momentum

gives us the torque. 

Initial angular momentum 

li = 0. 2 × 70 

li = 14

Final angular momentum 

li = 0. 2 × 120 

li = 24

Rate of change of angular momentum = 

Question 6: A body is revolving around an

axis in a circular motion with a radius of
0.1m, the momentum of the body is given by
50 Kgm/s.  A torque is applied on the body
for 4 seconds and the momentum becomes
100Kgm/s. Find the torque applied to the
body. 

Answer: 

Angular momentum of a body is given

by, 

l=r×p

Where r is the perpendicular distance of

the force from the rotational axis and p
is the linear momentum.  

Rate of Change in angular momentum

gives us the torque. 

Initial angular momentum 

li = 0. 1 × 50 

li = 5

Final angular momentum 

li = 0. 1 × 100 

li = 10

Rate of change of angular momentum = 

Article Tags : Class 11 School Learning

School Physics

Recommended Articles
1. Di"erences Between Horsepower and
Torque
2. Torque
3. Torque on an Electric Dipole in Uniform
Electric Field
4. Torque on a Rectangular Current Loop
5. Angular Momentum in Case of Rotation
About a Fixed Axis
6. Rigid Body - Definition, Rotation, Angular
Velocity, Momentum
7. Angular Momentum
8. Momentum and its Conservation Formula
9. Di"erence between Momentum and
Impulse
10. Conservation of Momentum
11. Laws of Conservation of Momentum
12. Linear Momentum of a System of
Particles
13. Momentum Formula
14. Energy Momentum Formula
15. How to find the Momentum from
Velocity?
16. Momentum of Photon Formula
17. How to calculate the change in
momentum of an object?
18. Relation between Angular Velocity and
Linear Velocity
19. Angular Speed Formula
20. Angular Velocity Formula
21. Angular Displacement Formula
22. Angular Acceleration Formula
23. Accounting Equation|Decrease in Capital
and Increase in the Liability, Decrease in
Liability and Increase in the Capital and
Increase and Decrease in Assets
24. Accounting Equation | Increase in Assets
and Capitals both and Increase in Assets and
Liability both
25. Accounting Equation | Decrease in Assets
and Capital both and Decrease in Asset and
Liability both

Read Full Article

A-143, 9th Floor, Sovereign Corporate Tower,

Sector- 136, Noida, Uttar Pradesh (201305)
feedback@geeksforgeeks.org

Company

About Us
Careers
In Media
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Copyright Policy
Advertise with us

Learn

DSA
Algorithms
Data Structures
SDE Cheat Sheet
Machine Learning
CS Subjects
Video Tutorials
Courses

NEWS

Top News
Technology
Work & Career
Business
Finance
Lifestyle
Knowledge

Languages

Python
Java
CPP
Golang
C#
SQL
Kotlin

Web Development

Web Tutorials
Django Tutorial
HTML
JavaScript
Bootstrap
ReactJs
NodeJs

Contribute

Write an Article
Improve an Article
Pick Topics to Write
Write Interview Experience
Internships
Video Internship

@geeksforgeeks, Some rights reserved