Chapter 10

Dynamic of Rotational
Motion: Angular
Momentum

Dr. Armen Kocharian

The Vector Product
 There are instances where the product of two
vectors is another vector
 Earlier we saw where the product of two vectors
was a scalar
 This was called the dot product
 The vector product of two vectors is also
called the cross product
The Vector Product and Torque
 The torque vector lies in a
direction perpendicular to
the plane formed by the
position vector and the
force vector
   Fr
 The torque is the vector (or
cross) product of the
position vector and the
force vector
The Vector Product Defined
 Given two vectors, A and B
 The vector (cross) product of A and B is
defined as a third vector, C  A  B
 C is read as “A cross B”
 The magnitude of vector C is AB sin q
 q is the angle between A and B
More About the Vector Product
 The quantity AB sin q is
equal to the area of the
parallelogram formed
by A and B
 The direction of C is
perpendicular to the
plane formed by A and B
 The best way to
determine this direction
is to use the right-hand
rule
Properties of the Vector Product
 The vector product is not commutative. The
order in which the vectors are multiplied is
important
 To account for order, remember
A  B  B  A
 If A is parallel to B (q = 0o or 180o), then
A B  0
 Therefore A  A  0
More Properties of the Vector
Product
 If A is perpendicular to B , then A  B  AB
 The vector product obeys the distributive law
 A x (B + C) = A x B + A x C
Final Properties of the Vector
Product
 The derivative of the cross product with
respect to some variable such as t is
d
dt
 
A B 
dA
dt
B  A 
dB
dt

where it is important to preserve the

multiplicative order of A and B
Vector Products of Unit
Vectors

ˆi  ˆi  ˆj  ˆj  kˆ  kˆ  0
ˆi  ˆj  ˆj  ˆi  kˆ
ˆj  kˆ  kˆ  ˆj  ˆi
kˆ  ˆi  ˆi  kˆ  ˆj
Vector Products of Unit
Vectors, cont
 Signs are interchangeable in cross products

 
A  -B   A  B

  
and ˆi   ˆj  ˆi  ˆj
Using Determinants
 The cross product can be expressed as
ˆi ˆj kˆ
Ay Az Az ˆ Ax Ay
A  B  Ax Ay Az  ˆi  Ax j kˆ
By Bz Bx Bz Bx By
Bx By Bz

 Expanding the determinants gives

A  B   Ay Bz  AzBy  ˆi   Ax Bz  AzBx  ˆj   Ax By  Ay Bx  kˆ
Vector Product Example
 Given A  2ˆi  3ˆj; B  ˆi  2ˆj
 Find A  B
 Result
A  B  (2ˆi  3ˆj)  ( ˆi  2ˆj)
 2ˆi  ( ˆi )  2ˆi  2ˆj  3ˆj  ( ˆi )  3ˆj  2ˆj
 0  4kˆ  3kˆ  0  7kˆ
Torque Vector Example
 Given the force and location
F  (2.00 ˆi  3.00 ˆj) N
r  (4.00 ˆi  5.00 ˆj) m

 Find the torque produced

  r  F  [(4.00ˆi  5.00ˆj)N]  [(2.00ˆi  3.00ˆj)m]
 [(4.00)(2.00)ˆi  ˆi  (4.00)(3.00)ˆi  ˆj
(5.00)(2.00)ˆj  ˆi  (5.00)(3.00)ˆi  ˆj
 2.0 kˆ N  m
Angular Momentum
 Consider a particle of mass m located at the
vector position r and moving with linear
momentum p
 Find the net torque
dp
r   F    r 
dt
dr
Add the term  p  sinceit  0 
dt
d (r  p )
  dt
Angular Momentum, cont
 The instantaneous angular
momentum L of a particle
relative to the origin O is
defined as the cross
product of the particle’s
instantaneous position
vector r and its
instantaneous linear
momentum p
 L  r p
Torque and Angular
Momentum
 The torque is related to the angular momentum
 Similar to the way force is related to linear momentum

dL
  dt
 The torque acting on a particle is equal to the time
rate of change of the particle’s angular momentum
 This is the rotational analog of Newton’s Second
Law
  and L must be measured about the same origin
 This is valid for any origin fixed in an inertial frame
More About Angular
Momentum
 The SI units of angular momentum are
(kg.m2)/ s
 Both the magnitude and direction of the
angular momentum depend on the choice of
origin
 The magnitude is L = mvr sin f
 f is the angle between p and r
 The direction of L is perpendicular to the
plane formed by r and p
Angular Momentum of a
Particle, Example
 The vector L = r  p is
pointed out of the diagram
 The magnitude is
L = mvr sin 90o = mvr
 sin 90o is used since v is
perpendicular to r
 A particle in uniform circular
motion has a constant
angular momentum about
an axis through the center
of its path
Angular Momentum of a
System of Particles
 The total angular momentum of a system of
particles is defined as the vector sum of the
angular momenta of the individual particles
 Ltot  L1  L2   Ln   Li
i
 Differentiating with respect to time
dLtot dLi
   i
dt i dt i
Angular Momentum of a
System of Particles, cont
 Any torques associated with the internal forces
acting in a system of particles are zero

dLtot
 Therefore,  ext 
dt
 The net external torque acting on a system about some
axis passing through an origin in an inertial frame equals
the time rate of change of the total angular momentum of
the system about that origin
 This is the mathematical representation of the
angular momentum version of the nonisolated
system model.
Angular Momentum of a
System of Particles, final
 The resultant torque acting on a system
about an axis through the center of mass
equals the time rate of change of angular
momentum of the system regardless of the
motion of the center of mass
 This applies even if the center of mass is
accelerating, provided  and L are evaluated
relative to the center of mass
System of Objects, Example
 The masses are
connected by a light
cord that passes over a
pulley; find the linear
acceleration
 Conceptualize
 The sphere falls, the
pulley rotates and the
block slides
 Use angular momentum
approach
System of Objects, Example
cont
 Categorize
 The block, pulley and sphere are a nonisolated
system
 Use an axis that corresponds to the axle of the
pulley
 Analyze
 At any instant of time, the sphere and the block
have a common velocity v
 Write expressions for the total angular momentum
and the net external torque
System of Objects, Example
final
 Analyze, cont
 Solve the expression for the linear acceleration
 Finalize
 The system as a whole was analyzed so that
internal forces could be ignored
 Only external forces are needed
Angular Momentum of a
Rotating Rigid Object
 Each particle of the object
rotates in the xy plane
about the z axis with an
angular speed of w
 The angular momentum of
an individual particle is Li =
mi ri2 w
 L and w are directed along
the z axis
Angular Momentum of a
Rotating Rigid Object, cont
 To find the angular momentum of the entire
object, add the angular momenta of all the
individual particles
 
Lz   Li   mi ri 2 w  Iw
i i

 This also gives the rotational form of

Newton’s Second Law
dLz dw
 ext 
dt
I
dt
 I
Angular Momentum of a
Rotating Rigid Object, final
 The rotational form of Newton’s Second Law is also
valid for a rigid object rotating about a moving axis
provided the moving axis:
(1) passes through the center of mass
(2) is a symmetry axis
 If a symmetrical object rotates about a fixed axis
passing through its center of mass, the vector form
holds: L  Iw
 where L is the total angular momentum measured with
respect to the axis of rotation
Angular Momentum of a
Bowling Ball
 The momentum of
inertia of the ball is
2/5MR 2
 The angular
momentum of the ball
is Lz = Iw
 The direction of the
angular momentum is
in the positive z
direction
Conservation of Angular
Momentum
 The total angular momentum of a system is constant
in both magnitude and direction if the resultant
external torque acting on the system is zero
 Net torque = 0 -> means that the system is isolated
 Ltot = constant or Li = Lf
 For a system of particles, Ltot = L n = constant
Conservation of Angular
Momentum, cont
 If the mass of an isolated system undergoes
redistribution, the moment of inertia changes
 The conservation of angular momentum requires
a compensating change in the angular velocity
 Ii wi = If wf = constant
 This holds for rotation about a fixed axis and for
rotation about an axis through the center of mass of a
moving system
 The net torque must be zero in any case
Conservation Law Summary
 For an isolated system -
(1) Conservation of Energy:
 Ei = Ef
(2) Conservation of Linear Momentum:
 p i  pf
(3) Conservation of Angular Momentum:
 L i  Lf
Conservation of Angular Momentum:
The Merry-Go-Round
 The moment of inertia of the
system is the moment of
inertia of the platform plus
the moment of inertia of the
person
 Assume the person can be
treated as a particle
 As the person moves
toward the center of the
rotating platform, the
angular speed will increase
 To keep the angular
momentum constant
Motion of a Top
 The only external forces
acting on the top are the
normal force and the
gravitational force
 The direction of the angular
momentum is along the axis
of symmetry
 The right-hand rule
indicates that the torque is
in the xy plane
  r  F  r  Mg
Motion of a Top, cont
 The net torque and the angular momentum are
related:
dL
 
dt
 A non-zero torque produces a change in the angular
momentum
 The result of the change in angular momentum is a
precession about the z axis
 The direction of the angular momentum is changing
 The precessional motion is the motion of the symmetry
axis about the vertical
 The precession is usually slow relative to the spinning
motion of the top
Gyroscope
 A gyroscope can be used to
illustrate precessional
motion
 The gravitational force
produces a torque about the
pivot, and this torque is
perpendicular to the axle
 The normal force produces
no torque
Gyroscope, cont
 The torque results in a
change in angular
momentum in a direction
perpendicular to the axle.
 The axle sweeps out an
angle df in a time interval
dt.
 The direction, not the
magnitude, of the angular
momentum is changing
 The gyroscope experiences
precessional motion
Gyroscope, final
 To simplify, assume the angular momentum
due to the motion of the center of mass about
the pivot is zero
 Therefore, the total angular momentum is due to
its spin
 This is a good approximation whenw is large
Precessional Frequency
 Analyzing the previous vector triangle, the
rate at which the axle rotates about the
vertical axis can be found
df Mgh
wp  
dt Iw
 wp is the precessional frequency
 This is valid only when wp << w
Gyroscope in a Spacecraft

 The angular momentum of the

spacecraft about its center of
mass is zero
 A gyroscope is set into
rotation, giving it a nonzero
angular momentum
 The spacecraft rotates in the
direction opposite to that of
the gyroscope
 So the total momentum of the
system remains zero
New Analysis Model 1
 Nonisolated System (Angular Momentum)
 If a system interacts with its environment in the
sense that there is an external torque on the
system, the net external torque acting on the
system is equal to the time rate of change of its
angular momentum:
dLtot
  dt
New Analysis Model 2
 Isolated System (Angular Momentum)
 If a system experiences no external torque from
the environment, the total angular momentum of
the system is conserved:
L i  Lf
 Applying this law of conservation of angular
momentum to a system whose moment of
inertia changes gives
Iiwi = Ifwf = constant
Which of the following statements about the
relationship between the magnitude of the cross
product of two vectors and the product of the
magnitudes of the vectors is true?

 
1. A  B is larger than AB.
 
2.
 B
A  is smaller than AB.
3. A  B could be larger or
smaller than AB,
depending on the angle
between the vectors.
 
4. A  B could be equal to
AB.
Which of the following statements about the
relationship between the magnitude of the cross
product of two vectors and the product of the
magnitudes of the vectors is true?

 
1. A  B is larger than AB.
 
2.
 B
A  is smaller than AB.
3. A  B could be larger or
smaller than AB,
depending on the angle
between the vectors.
 
4. A  B could be equal to
AB.
Recall the skater described at the beginning of this
section. Let her mass be m. What would be her angular
momentum relative to the pole at the instant she is a
distance d from the pole if she were skating directly
toward it at speed v?

1. zero
2. mvd
3. impossible to determine
Recall the skater described at the beginning of this
section. Let her mass be m. What would be her angular
momentum relative to the pole at the instant she is a
distance d from the pole if she were skating directly
toward it at speed v?

1. zero
2. mvd
3. impossible to determine
Recall the skater described at the beginning of this
section. Let her mass be m. What would be her angular
momentum relative to the pole at the instant she is a
distance d from the pole if she were skating at speed v
along a straight path that is a perpendicular distance a
from the pole?

1. zero
2. mvd
3. mva
4. impossible to determine
Recall the skater described at the beginning of this
section. Let her mass be m. What would be her angular
momentum relative to the pole at the instant she is a
distance d from the pole if she were skating at speed v
along a straight path that is a perpendicular distance a
from the pole?

1. zero
2. mvd
3. mva
4. impossible to determine
A solid sphere and a hollow sphere have the same
mass and radius. They are rotating with the same
angular speed. Which one has the higher angular
momentum?

1. the solid sphere

2. the hollow sphere
3. both have the same
angular momentum
4. impossible to
determine
A solid sphere and a hollow sphere have the same
mass and radius. They are rotating with the same
angular speed. Which one has the higher angular
momentum?

1. the solid sphere

2. the hollow sphere
3. both have the same
angular momentum
4. impossible to
determine
A competitive diver leaves the diving board and falls
toward the water with her body straight and rotating
slowly. She pulls her arms and legs into a tight tuck
position. What happens to her angular speed?

1. It increases.
2. It decreases.
3. It stays the same.
4. It is impossible to
determine.
A competitive diver leaves the diving board and falls
toward the water with her body straight and rotating
slowly. She pulls her arms and legs into a tight tuck
position. What happens to her angular speed?

1. It increases.
2. It decreases.
3. It stays the same.
4. It is impossible to
determine.
A competitive diver leaves the diving board and falls
toward the water with her body straight and rotating
slowly. She pulls her arms and legs into a tight tuck
position. What happens to the rotational kinetic energy
of her body?

1. It increases.
2. It decreases.
3. It stays the same.
4. It is impossible to
determine.
A competitive diver leaves the diving board and falls
toward the water with her body straight and rotating
slowly. She pulls her arms and legs into a tight tuck
position. What happens to the rotational kinetic energy
of her body?

1. It increases.
2. It decreases.
3. It stays the same.
4. It is impossible to
determine.
Is it possible to calculate the torque
acting on a rigid object without
specifying an axis of rotation?

1. no
2. yes
Is it possible to calculate the torque
acting on a rigid object without
specifying an axis of rotation?

1. no
2. yes
Is the torque independent of the
location of the axis of rotation?

1. no
2. yes
Is the torque independent of the
location of the axis of rotation?

1. no
2. yes
 
Vector A is in the negative y direction

and vector
B is in the negative x
 
A  B of
direction. What is the direction ?

1. y
2. −y
3. x
4. −x
5. z
6. −z
7. no direction because it
is zero
8. no direction because it
is a scalar
 
Vector A is in the negative y direction

and vector
B is in the negative x
 
A  B of
direction. What is the direction ?

1. y
2. −y
3. x
4. −x
5. z
6. −z
7. no direction because it
is zero
8. no direction because it
is a scalar
 
Vector A is in the negative y direction
and vector B is in the negative x  
direction. What is the direction of B A ?

1. y
2. −y
3. x
4. −x
5. z
6. −z
7. no direction because it
is zero
8. no direction because it
is a scalar
 
Vector A is in the negative y direction
and vector B is in the negative x  
direction. What is the direction of B A ?

1. y
2. −y
3. x
4. −x
5. z
6. −z
7. no direction because it
is zero
8. no direction because it
is a scalar
Let us name three perpendicular directions as right, up, and
toward you, as you might name them when you are facing a
television screen that lies in a vertical plane. Unit vectors for
these directions are r̂ , û , and t̂ , respectively. For the
 
quantity  3uˆ m  2tˆ N identify the magnitude, unit, and direction,
if any. The magnitude is:

1. 6
2. 3
3. 2
4. 0
Let us name three perpendicular directions as right, up, and
toward you, as you might name them when you are facing a
television screen that lies in a vertical plane. Unit vectors for
these directions are r̂ , û , and t̂ , respectively. For the
 
quantity  3uˆ m  2tˆ N identify the magnitude, unit, and direction,
if any. The magnitude is:

1. 6
2. 3
3. 2
4. 0
Let us name three perpendicular directions as right, up, and
toward you, as you might name them when you are facing a
television screen that lies in a vertical plane. Unit vectors for
these directions are r̂ , û , and t̂ , respectively. For the
 
quantity  3uˆ m  2tˆ N identify the magnitude, unit, and direction,
if any. The unit is:

1. newton meters
2. newtons
3. meters
4. no unit
Let us name three perpendicular directions as right, up, and
toward you, as you might name them when you are facing a
television screen that lies in a vertical plane. Unit vectors for
these directions are r̂ , û , and t̂ , respectively. For the
 
quantity  3uˆ m  2tˆ N identify the magnitude, unit, and direction,
if any. The unit is:

1. newton meters
2. newtons
3. meters
4. no unit
Let us name three perpendicular directions as right, up, and
toward you, as you might name them when you are facing a
television screen that lies in a vertical plane. Unit vectors for
these directions are r̂ , û , and t̂ , respectively. For the
 
quantity  3uˆ m  2tˆ N identify the magnitude, unit, and direction,
if any. The direction is:
1. down
2. toward you
3. no direction
4. up
5. away from you
6. left
7. right
Let us name three perpendicular directions as right, up, and
toward you, as you might name them when you are facing a
television screen that lies in a vertical plane. Unit vectors for
these directions are r̂ , û , and t̂ , respectively. For the
 
quantity  3uˆ m  2tˆ N identify the magnitude, unit, and direction,
if any. The direction is:
1. down
2. toward you
3. no direction
4. up
5. away from you
6. left
7. right
Compound terms can sometimes be confusing. For
example, an ant lion is not a kind of lion but rather a
different kind of insect. Is rotational kinetic energy a
kind of kinetic energy?

1. no
2. yes
Compound terms can sometimes be confusing. For
example, an ant lion is not a kind of lion but rather a
different kind of insect. Is rotational kinetic energy a
kind of kinetic energy?

1. no
2. yes
Compound terms can sometimes be confusing. For
example, an ant lion is not a kind of lion but rather a
different kind of insect. Is torque a kind of force?

1. no
2. yes
Compound terms can sometimes be confusing. For
example, an ant lion is not a kind of lion but rather a
different kind of insect. Is torque a kind of force?

1. no
2. yes
Compound terms can sometimes be confusing. For
example, an ant lion is not a kind of lion but rather a
different kind of insect. Is angular momentum a kind of
momentum?

1. no
2. yes
Compound terms can sometimes be confusing. For
example, an ant lion is not a kind of lion but rather a
different kind of insect. Is angular momentum a kind of
momentum?

1. no
2. yes
An ice skater starts a spin with her arms stretched out to the
sides. She balances on the tip of one skate to turn without friction.
She then pulls her arms in so that her moment of inertia
decreases by a factor of two. In the process of her doing so, what
happens to her kinetic energy?

1. It increases by a factor of four.

2. It increases by a factor of two.
3. It remains constant.
4. It decreases by a factor of two.
5. It decreases by a factor of four.
6. It is zero because her center of
mass is stationary.
7. It undergoes a change by an
amount that obviously depends
on how fast the skater pulls her
arms in.
An ice skater starts a spin with her arms stretched out to the
sides. She balances on the tip of one skate to turn without friction.
She then pulls her arms in so that her moment of inertia
decreases by a factor of two. In the process of her doing so, what
happens to her kinetic energy?

1. It increases by a factor of four.

2. It increases by a factor of two.
3. It remains constant.
4. It decreases by a factor of two.
5. It decreases by a factor of four.
6. It is zero because her center of
mass is stationary.
7. It undergoes a change by an
amount that obviously depends
on how fast the skater pulls her
arms in.
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a stationary,
horizontal turntable that is supported by a frictionless,
vertical axle through its center. The mouse wakes up and
starts to walk north on the turntable. As it takes its first
steps, what is the mouse’s displacement relative to the
stationary ground below?

1. north
2. south
3. none
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a stationary,
horizontal turntable that is supported by a frictionless,
vertical axle through its center. The mouse wakes up and
starts to walk north on the turntable. As it takes its first
steps, what is the mouse’s displacement relative to the
stationary ground below?

1. north
2. south
3. none
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a stationary,
horizontal turntable that is supported by a frictionless,
vertical axle through its center. The mouse wakes up and
starts to walk north on the turntable. In this process, the
spot on the turntable where the mouse had been snoozing
undergoes what displacement relative to the ground below?

1. north
2. south
3. none
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a stationary,
horizontal turntable that is supported by a frictionless,
vertical axle through its center. The mouse wakes up and
starts to walk north on the turntable. In this process, the
spot on the turntable where the mouse had been snoozing
undergoes what displacement relative to the ground below?

1. north
2. south
3. none
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a stationary,
horizontal turntable that is supported by a frictionless,
vertical axle through its center. The mouse wakes up and
starts to walk north on the turntable. In this process for the
mouse-turntable system, is mechanical energy conserved?

1. no
2. yes
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a stationary,
horizontal turntable that is supported by a frictionless,
vertical axle through its center. The mouse wakes up and
starts to walk north on the turntable. In this process for the
mouse-turntable system, is mechanical energy conserved?

1. no
2. yes
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a stationary,
horizontal turntable that is supported by a frictionless,
vertical axle through its center. The mouse wakes up and
starts to walk north on the turntable. Is momentum
conserved?

1. no
2. yes
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a stationary,
horizontal turntable that is supported by a frictionless,
vertical axle through its center. The mouse wakes up and
starts to walk north on the turntable. Is momentum
conserved?

1. no
2. yes
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a
stationary, horizontal turntable that is supported by a
frictionless, vertical axle through its center. The mouse
wakes up and starts to walk north on the turntable. Is
angular momentum conserved?

1. no
2. yes
A pet mouse sleeps near the eastern edge of a
stationary, horizontal turntable that is supported by a
frictionless, vertical axle through its center. The mouse
wakes up and starts to walk north on the turntable. Is
angular momentum conserved?

1. no
2. yes
An employee party for a very successful company features a
merry-go-round with real animals. The horizontal turntable has no
motor, but is turning freely on a vertical, frictionless axle through
its center. Two ponies of equal mass are tethered at diametrically
opposite points on the rim. Children untie them, and the placid
beasts simultaneously start plodding toward each other across
the turntable. As they walk, what happens to the angular speed of
the carousel?

1. It increases.
2. It stays constant.
3. It decreases.
An employee party for a very successful company features a
merry-go-round with real animals. The horizontal turntable has no
motor, but is turning freely on a vertical, frictionless axle through
its center. Two ponies of equal mass are tethered at diametrically
opposite points on the rim. Children untie them, and the placid
beasts simultaneously start plodding toward each other across
the turntable. As they walk, what happens to the angular speed of
the carousel?

1. It increases.
2. It stays constant.
3. It decreases.
An employee party for a very successful company features a merry-
go-round with real animals. The horizontal turntable has no motor, but
is turning freely on a vertical, frictionless axle through its center. Two
ponies of equal mass are tethered at diametrically opposite points on
the rim. Children untie them, and the placid beasts simultaneously
start plodding toward each other across the turntable. Consider the
ponies–turntable system in this process. Is its mechanical energy
conserved?

1. no
2. yes
An employee party for a very successful company features a merry-
go-round with real animals. The horizontal turntable has no motor, but
is turning freely on a vertical, frictionless axle through its center. Two
ponies of equal mass are tethered at diametrically opposite points on
the rim. Children untie them, and the placid beasts simultaneously
start plodding toward each other across the turntable. Consider the
ponies–turntable system in this process. Is its mechanical energy
conserved?

1. no
2. yes
An employee party for a very successful company features a
merry-go-round with real animals. The horizontal turntable has no
motor, but is turning freely on a vertical, frictionless axle through
its center. Two ponies of equal mass are tethered at diametrically
opposite points on the rim. Children untie them, and the placid
beasts simultaneously start plodding toward each other across
the turntable. Is its momentum conserved?

1. no
2. yes
An employee party for a very successful company features a
merry-go-round with real animals. The horizontal turntable has no
motor, but is turning freely on a vertical, frictionless axle through
its center. Two ponies of equal mass are tethered at diametrically
opposite points on the rim. Children untie them, and the placid
beasts simultaneously start plodding toward each other across
the turntable. Is its momentum conserved?

1. no
2. yes
An employee party for a very successful company features a merry-
go-round with real animals. The horizontal turntable has no motor, but
is turning freely on a vertical, frictionless axle through its center. Two
ponies of equal mass are tethered at diametrically opposite points on
the rim. Children untie them, and the placid beasts simultaneously
start plodding toward each other across the turntable. Is its angular
momentum conserved?

1. no
2. yes
An employee party for a very successful company features a merry-
go-round with real animals. The horizontal turntable has no motor, but
is turning freely on a vertical, frictionless axle through its center. Two
ponies of equal mass are tethered at diametrically opposite points on
the rim. Children untie them, and the placid beasts simultaneously
start plodding toward each other across the turntable. Is its angular
momentum conserved?

1. no
2. yes
A horizontal disk with moment of inertia I1 rotates with
angular velocity ω0 on a vertical, frictionless axle. A second
horizontal disk, having moment of inertia I2 and initially not
rotating, drops onto the first. Because of friction between
the surfaces of the disks, the two reach the same angular
velocity. What is it?

1. I1ω0/I2
2. I2ω0/I1
3. I1ω0/(I1 + I2)
4. I2ω0/(I1 + I2)
5. (I1 + I2) ω0/I1
6. (I1 + I2) ω0/I2
A horizontal disk with moment of inertia I1 rotates with
angular velocity ω0 on a vertical, frictionless axle. A second
horizontal disk, having moment of inertia I2 and initially not
rotating, drops onto the first. Because of friction between
the surfaces of the disks, the two reach the same angular
velocity. What is it?

1. I1ω0/I2
2. I2ω0/I1
3. I1ω0/(I1 + I2)
4. I2ω0/(I1 + I2)
5. (I1 + I2) ω0/I1
6. (I1 + I2) ω0/I2
Which situation has the least magnitude of angular momentum
about the origin?

A. A 2 kg mass travels along the line y = 3 m with speed 1.5 m/s.

B. A 1 kg mass travels in a circle of r = 4.5 m about the origin with
speed 2 m/s.
C. A disk with I = 3 kg·m2 rotates about its center (on origin) with ω
= 3 rad/s.

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. Both A and B
5. Both A and C
6. Both B and C
7. All have the same
magnitude angular
momentum
Which situation has the least magnitude of angular momentum
about the origin?

A. A 2 kg mass travels along the line y = 3 m with speed 1.5 m/s.

B. A 1 kg mass travels in a circle of r = 4.5 m about the origin with
speed 2 m/s.
C. A disk with I = 3 kg·m2 rotates about its center (on origin) with ω
= 3 rad/s.

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. Both A and B
5. Both A and C
6. Both B and C
7. All have the same
magnitude angular
momentum
A child is standing at the rim of a rotating disk holding a
rock. The disk rotates freely without friction. If the rock is
dropped at the instant shown, which of the indicated
paths most nearly represents the path of the rock as seen
from above the disk?

1. path (1)
2. path (2)
3. path (3)
4. path (4)
5. path (5)
6. cannot be determined
A child is standing at the rim of a rotating disk holding a
rock. The disk rotates freely without friction. If the rock is
dropped at the instant shown, which of the indicated
paths most nearly represents the path of the rock as seen
from above the disk?

1. path (1)
2. path (2)
3. path (3)
4. path (4)
5. path (5)
6. cannot be determined
A child is standing at the rim of a freely rotating disk
holding a rock. The disk rotates without friction. The rock
is dropped at the instant shown. As a result of dropping
the rock, what happens to the angular velocity of the child
and disk?

1. increases
2. stays the same
3. decreases
4. cannot be determined
A child is standing at the rim of a freely rotating disk
holding a rock. The disk rotates without friction. The rock
is dropped at the instant shown. As a result of dropping
the rock, what happens to the angular velocity of the child
and disk?

1. increases
2. stays the same
3. decreases
4. cannot be determined
 A child is standing at the rim of a freely rotating disk
holding a rock. The disk rotates without friction. The rock
is dropped at the instant shown. Which of the following
statements is true about the process of dropping the
rock?

1. Angular momentum is conserved, mechanical energy

increases.
2. Angular momentum is conserved, mechanical energy
decreases.
3. Angular momentum increases, mechanical energy is
conserved.
4. Angular momentum decreases, mechanical energy is
conserved.
5. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy are
conserved.
6. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy increase.
7. Angular momentum decreases, mechanical energy increases.
8. Angular momentum increases, mechanical energy decreases.
9. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy decrease.
10. The conserved quantities cannot be determined.
 A child is standing at the rim of a freely rotating disk
holding a rock. The disk rotates without friction. The rock
is dropped at the instant shown. Which of the following
statements is true about the process of dropping the
rock?

1. Angular momentum is conserved, mechanical energy

increases.
2. Angular momentum is conserved, mechanical energy
decreases.
3. Angular momentum increases, mechanical energy is
conserved.
4. Angular momentum decreases, mechanical energy is
conserved.
5. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy are
conserved.
6. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy increase.
7. Angular momentum decreases, mechanical energy increases.
8. Angular momentum increases, mechanical energy decreases.
9. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy decrease.
10. The conserved quantities cannot be determined.
A child is standing at the rim of a disk holding a rock. The
disk rotates freely without friction. At the instant shown,
the child throws the rock radially outward. Which of the
indicated paths most nearly represents the trajectory of
the rock as seen from above?

1. path (1)
2. path (2)
3. path (3)
4. path (4)
5. path (5)
6. none of the above
7. cannot be determined
A child is standing at the rim of a disk holding a rock. The
disk rotates freely without friction. At the instant shown,
the child throws the rock radially outward. Which of the
indicated paths most nearly represents the trajectory of
the rock as seen from above?

1. path (1)
2. path (2)
3. path (3)
4. path (4)
5. path (5)
6. none of the above
7. cannot be determined
 A child is standing at the rim of a rotating disk, and throws a
rock radially outward at the instant shown. The disk rotates
freely without friction. Which of the following statements is
correct about the disk-child-rock system as the rock is thrown?

1. Angular momentum is conserved; mechanical energy

increases.
2. Angular momentum is conserved; mechanical energy
decreases.
3. Angular momentum increases; mechanical energy is
conserved.
4. Angular momentum decreases; mechanical energy is
conserved.
5. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy are
conserved.
6. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy increase.
7. Angular momentum decreases; mechanical energy increases.
8. Angular momentum increases; mechanical energy decreases.
9. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy decrease.
10. The conserved quantities cannot be determined.
 A child is standing at the rim of a rotating disk, and throws a
rock radially outward at the instant shown. The disk rotates
freely without friction. Which of the following statements is
correct about the disk-child-rock system as the rock is thrown?

1. Angular momentum is conserved; mechanical energy

increases.
2. Angular momentum is conserved; mechanical energy
decreases.
3. Angular momentum increases; mechanical energy is
conserved.
4. Angular momentum decreases; mechanical energy is
conserved.
5. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy are
conserved.
6. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy increase.
7. Angular momentum decreases; mechanical energy increases.
8. Angular momentum increases; mechanical energy decreases.
9. Both angular momentum and mechanical energy decrease.
10. The conserved quantities cannot be determined.
A child is standing at the rim of a rotating disk
holding a rock, and throws a rock in direction (2) at
the instant shown. The disk rotates freely without
friction. What happens to the angular speed of the
disk?

1. increases
2. remains the same
3. decreases
4. impossible to determine
A child is standing at the rim of a rotating disk
holding a rock, and throws a rock in direction (2) at
the instant shown. The disk rotates freely without
friction. What happens to the angular speed of the
disk?

1. increases
2. remains the same
3. decreases
4. impossible to determine
An ice skater begins a spin in the middle of a
large rink, but then starts to spin faster by
pulling her arms in. Which of the following
statements is true?
1. Both kinetic energy and angular
momentum are conserved.
2. Kinetic energy is conserved; angular
momentum increases.
3. Kinetic energy is conserved; angular
momentum decreases.
4. Kinetic energy increases; angular
momentum is conserved.
5. Kinetic energy decreases; angular
momentum is conserved.
6. Both kinetic energy and angular
momentum increase.
7. Kinetic energy increases; angular
momentum decreases.
8. Kinetic energy decreases; angular
momentum increases.
9. Both kinetic energy and angular
momentum decrease.
10. Impossible to determine.
An ice skater begins a spin in the middle of a
large rink, but then starts to spin faster by
pulling her arms in. Which of the following
statements is true?
1. Both kinetic energy and angular
momentum are conserved.
2. Kinetic energy is conserved; angular
momentum increases.
3. Kinetic energy is conserved; angular
momentum decreases.
4. Kinetic energy increases; angular
momentum is conserved.
5. Kinetic energy decreases; angular
momentum is conserved.
6. Both kinetic energy and angular
momentum increase.
7. Kinetic energy increases; angular
momentum decreases.
8. Kinetic energy decreases; angular
momentum increases.
9. Both kinetic energy and angular
momentum decrease.
10. Impossible to determine.