Physics 111: Lecture 22

Todays Agenda
Angular Momentum:
Definitions & Derivations
What does it mean?
Rotation about a fixed axis
L = I
Example: Two disks
Student on rotating stool
Angular momentum of a freely moving particle
Bullet hitting stick
Student throwing ball

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 1

 Lecture 22, Act 1
Rotations
A girl is riding on the outside edge of a merry-go-round turning
with constant . She holds a ball at rest in her hand and
releases it. Viewed from above, which of the paths shown
below will the ball follow after she lets it go?

(a) (b)
(c)

(d)

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 2

 Lecture 22, Act 1
Solution
Just before release, the velocity of the ball is tangent to the
circle it is moving in.

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 3

 Lecture 22, Act 1
Solution
After release it keeps going in the same direction since there
are no forces acting on it to change this direction.

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 4

p = mv
Angular Momentum:
Definitions & Derivations
We have shown that for a system of particles

dp Momentum is conserved if
FEXT
dt FEXT 0

What is the rotational version of this??

The rotational analogue of force F is torque r F

Define the rotational analogue of momentum p to be

angular momentum L r p

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 5

 Definitions & Derivations...
dL d
First consider the rate of change of L: r p
dt dt

d dr p r dp
r p



dt dt dt

v mv
0

dL dp
So r (so what...?)
dt dt

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 6

 Definitions & Derivations...
dL dp
r
dt dt

dp dL
Recall that FEXT r FEXT
dt dt
EXT

dL
Which finally gives us: EXT
dt

dp
Analogue of FEXT !!
dt

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 7

 What does it mean?

dL EXT r FEXT
EXT where L r p and
dt

dL
In the absence of external torques EXT 0
dt

Total angular momentum is conserved

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 8

 Angular momentum of a rigid body
about a fixed axis: Rolling chain
Consider a rigid distribution of point particles rotating in the x-y
plane around the z axis, as shown below. The total angular
momentum around the origin is the sum of the angular
momenta of each particle:

L ri pi mi ri v i mi ri v i k (since ri and vi are

i i i
perpendicular)
v1
We see that L is in the z direction. m2
j
Using vi = ri , we get r2
i r1 m1
v2
L mi ri k
2

i r3
m3 v3
L I Analogue of p = mv!!

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 9

 Angular momentum of a rigid body
about a fixed axis:
In general, for an object rotating about a fixed (z) axis we
can write LZ = I

The direction of LZ is given by the

right hand rule (same as ). z

We will omit the Z subscript for simplicity, LZ I

and write L = I

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 10
 Example: Two Disks

A disk of mass M and radius R rotates around the z axis

with angular velocity i. A second identical disk, initially not
rotating, is dropped on top of the first. There is friction
between the disks, and eventually they rotate together with
angular velocity f.

z z

i f

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 11

 Example: Two Disks

First realize that there are no external torques acting on the

two-disk system.
Angular momentum will be conserved!

Initially, the total angular momentum

is due only to the disk on the bottom: z

1 1
Li I1 1 MR 2f
2 0

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 12

 Example: Two Disks

First realize that there are no external torques acting on the

two-disk system.
Angular momentum will be conserved!

Finally, the total angular momentum is due

to both disks spinning: z

2
Lf I1 1 I2 2 MR f
2
1
f

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 13

 Example: Two Disks
Wheel rim
1
Since Li = Lf MR 2 i MR 2f drop
2
1 An inelastic collision,
f i since E is not
2
conserved (friction)!

z z

Li Lf

f f

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 14

 Example: Rotating Table

A student sits on a rotating stool with his arms extended

and a weight in each hand. The total moment of inertia is
Ii, and he is rotating with angular speed i. He then pulls
his hands in toward his body so that the moment of inertia
reduces to If. What is his final angular speed f?

i f

Ii If

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 15

 Student on stool
Example: Rotating Table...
Drop mass from stool
Again, there are no external torques acting on the student-
stool system, so angular momentum will be conserved.
Initially: Li = Iii f Ii

Finally: Lf = If f I
i f

i f

Ii If

Li Lf

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 16

 Lecture 22, Act 2
Angular Momentum
A student sits on a freely turning stool and rotates with
constant angular velocity 1. She pulls her arms in, and due
to angular momentum conservation her angular velocity
increases to 2. In doing this her kinetic energy:
(a) increases (b) decreases (c) stays the same

1 2

I1 I2

L L

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 17

 Lecture 22, Act 2
Solution
1 2 L2
K I (using L = I)
2 2I

L is conserved:
I2 < I1 K2 > K1 K increases!

1 2

I1 I2

L L

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 18

 Lecture 22, Act 2
Solution
Since the student has to force her arms to move toward her
body, she must be doing positive work!
The work/kinetic energy theorem states that this will increase
the kinetic energy of the system!

1 2

I1 I2

L L

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 19

 Angular Momentum of a
Freely Moving Particle
We have defined the angular momentum of a particle about
the origin as L r p

This does not demand that the particle is moving in a circle!

We will show that this particle has a constant angular
momentum!
y

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 20

 Angular Momentum of a
Freely Moving Particle...
Consider a particle of mass m moving with speed v along
the line y = -d. What is its angular momentum as
measured from the origin (0,0)?

x
d m

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 21

 Angular Momentum of a
Freely Moving Particle...
We need to figure out L r p
The magnitude of the angular momentum is:
L r p rp sin pr sin pd

p x distance of closest approach

Since r and p are both in the x-y plane, L will be in the z

direction (right hand rule): LZ pd
y

x
d r
p=mv

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 22

 Angular Momentum of a
Freely Moving Particle...
So we see that the direction of L is along the z axis, and its
magnitude is given by LZ = pd = mvd.
L is clearly conserved since d is constant (the distance of
closest approach of the particle to the origin) and p is
constant (momentum conservation).

x
d

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 23

 Example: Bullet hitting stick

A uniform stick of mass M and length D is pivoted at the

center. A bullet of mass m is shot through the stick at a
point halfway between the pivot and the end. The initial
speed of the bullet is v1, and the final speed is v2.
What is the angular speed F of the stick after the
collision? (Ignore gravity)

M
F
D
m D/4

v1 v2

initial final
Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 24
 Example: Bullet hitting stick...

Conserve angular momentum around the pivot (z) axis!

The total angular momentum before the collision is due
only to the bullet (since the stick is not rotating yet).

D
Li p x (distance of closest approach) mv1
4

D
m D/4

v1

initial
Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 25
 Example: Bullet hitting stick...

Conserve angular momentum around the pivot (z) axis!

The total angular momentum after the collision has
contributions from both the bullet and the stick.

D where I is the moment of inertia

Lf mv 2 I F
4 of the stick about the pivot.

F
D/4

v2

final
Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 26
 Example: Bullet hitting stick...
1
Set Li = Lf using I MD 2
12

D D 1 3m
mv1
4
mv 2 MD 2 F
4 12
F v1 v 2
MD

M
F
D
m D/4

v1 v2

initial final
Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 27
 Example: Throwing ball from stool

A student sits on a stool which is free to rotate. The

moment of inertia of the student plus the stool is I. She
throws a heavy ball of mass M with speed v such that its
velocity vector passes a distance d from the axis of
rotation.
What is the angular speed F of the student-stool
system after she throws the ball?

M
v
F d
I I

top view: initial final

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 28
 Example: Throwing ball from stool...

Conserve angular momentum (since there are no external

torques acting on the student-stool system):
Li = 0
Mvd
Lf = 0 = IF - Mvd F
I

M
v
F d
I I

top view: initial final

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 29
 Lecture 22, Act 3
Angular Momentum
A student is riding on the outside edge of a merry-go-round
rotating about a frictionless pivot. She holds a heavy ball at
rest in her hand. If she releases the ball, the angular velocity
of the merry-go-round will:

(a) increase (b) decrease (c) stay the same

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 30

 Lecture 22, Act 3
Solution
The angular momentum is due to the girl, the merry-go-round
and the ball. LNET = LMGR + LGIRL + LBALL

Initial:
LBALL I mR 2 mvR
v
R
Final: LBALL mvR same

v v
m m
R

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 31

 Lecture 22, Act 3
Solution
Since LBALL is the same before & after, must stay the same
to keep the rest of LNET unchanged.

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 32

 Lecture 22, Act 3
Conceptual answer
Since dropping the ball does not cause any forces to act on
the merry-go-round, there is no way that this can change the
angular velocity.
Just like dropping a weight from a level coasting car does not
affect the speed of the car.

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 33

 Recap of todays lecture

Angular Momentum: (Text: 10-2, 10-4)

Definitions & Derivations
What does it mean?
Rotation about a fixed axis (Text: 10-2, 10-4)
L = I
Example: Two disks
Student on rotating stool
Angular momentum of a freely moving particle
(Text: 10-2, 10-4)
Bullet hitting stick
Student throwing ball

Look at textbook problems Chapter 10: # 21, 29, 35, 41, 47, 49

Physics 111: Lecture 22, Pg 34