Understanding Conservation of Angular Momentum - AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Card 1 of 44
A mouse sits at the edge of a 
diameter record, rotating on a turntable at fifteen revolutions per minute. If the mouse walks straight inwards to a point 
from the center, what will be its new angular velocity? Assume the mass of the record is negligible.
A mouse sits at the edge of a
Tap to reveal answer
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
Tap to reveal answer
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Sarah spins a ball of mass 
attached to a string of length 
around her head with a velocity 
. If the ball splits in half, losing exactly one-half of its mass instantaneously, what is its new velocity, 
?
Sarah spins a ball of mass
Tap to reveal answer
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum 
, is equal to the product of the mass, angular velocity, and radius (or length of the rope in this case). The equation relating these terms is:
Here, 
is the initial mass, 
is the initial angular velocity, and 
is the length of the rope, which remains constant. Angular momentum must be conserved, thus:
Substitute.
We are given that 
and 
is the final velocity. Plug in and solve.
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum
Here,
Substitute.
We are given that
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity, 
. The child begins to walk slowly toward the edge of the platform. Which quantity will decrease as the child walks?
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity,
Tap to reveal answer
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an 
term in the kinetic energy expression, as 
decreased due to the increase of inertia, it affects the energy more, and it decreases. From the reference frame of the disk, the child feels an outward directed force, and thus is doing negative work. This is the same principle that allows ice skaters to increase their spinning speed.
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A mouse sits at the edge of a diameter record, rotating on a turntable at fifteen revolutions per minute. If the mouse walks straight inwards to a point from the center, what will be its new angular velocity? Assume the mass of the record is negligible.
A mouse sits at the edge of a
Tap to reveal answer
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
Tap to reveal answer
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Sarah spins a ball of mass attached to a string of length around her head with a velocity . If the ball splits in half, losing exactly one-half of its mass instantaneously, what is its new velocity, ?
Sarah spins a ball of mass
Tap to reveal answer
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum , is equal to the product of the mass, angular velocity, and radius (or length of the rope in this case). The equation relating these terms is:
Here, is the initial mass, is the initial angular velocity, and is the length of the rope, which remains constant. Angular momentum must be conserved, thus:
Substitute.
We are given that and is the final velocity. Plug in and solve.
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum
Here,
Substitute.
We are given that
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity, . The child begins to walk slowly toward the edge of the platform. Which quantity will decrease as the child walks?
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity,
Tap to reveal answer
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an term in the kinetic energy expression, as decreased due to the increase of inertia, it affects the energy more, and it decreases. From the reference frame of the disk, the child feels an outward directed force, and thus is doing negative work. This is the same principle that allows ice skaters to increase their spinning speed.
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A mouse sits at the edge of a diameter record, rotating on a turntable at fifteen revolutions per minute. If the mouse walks straight inwards to a point from the center, what will be its new angular velocity? Assume the mass of the record is negligible.
A mouse sits at the edge of a
Tap to reveal answer
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
Tap to reveal answer
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Sarah spins a ball of mass attached to a string of length around her head with a velocity . If the ball splits in half, losing exactly one-half of its mass instantaneously, what is its new velocity, ?
Sarah spins a ball of mass
Tap to reveal answer
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum , is equal to the product of the mass, angular velocity, and radius (or length of the rope in this case). The equation relating these terms is:
Here, is the initial mass, is the initial angular velocity, and is the length of the rope, which remains constant. Angular momentum must be conserved, thus:
Substitute.
We are given that and is the final velocity. Plug in and solve.
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum
Here,
Substitute.
We are given that
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity, . The child begins to walk slowly toward the edge of the platform. Which quantity will decrease as the child walks?
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity,
Tap to reveal answer
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an term in the kinetic energy expression, as decreased due to the increase of inertia, it affects the energy more, and it decreases. From the reference frame of the disk, the child feels an outward directed force, and thus is doing negative work. This is the same principle that allows ice skaters to increase their spinning speed.
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A mouse sits at the edge of a diameter record, rotating on a turntable at fifteen revolutions per minute. If the mouse walks straight inwards to a point from the center, what will be its new angular velocity? Assume the mass of the record is negligible.
A mouse sits at the edge of a
Tap to reveal answer
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
Tap to reveal answer
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Sarah spins a ball of mass attached to a string of length around her head with a velocity . If the ball splits in half, losing exactly one-half of its mass instantaneously, what is its new velocity, ?
Sarah spins a ball of mass
Tap to reveal answer
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum , is equal to the product of the mass, angular velocity, and radius (or length of the rope in this case). The equation relating these terms is:
Here, is the initial mass, is the initial angular velocity, and is the length of the rope, which remains constant. Angular momentum must be conserved, thus:
Substitute.
We are given that and is the final velocity. Plug in and solve.
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum
Here,
Substitute.
We are given that
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity, . The child begins to walk slowly toward the edge of the platform. Which quantity will decrease as the child walks?
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity,
Tap to reveal answer
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an term in the kinetic energy expression, as decreased due to the increase of inertia, it affects the energy more, and it decreases. From the reference frame of the disk, the child feels an outward directed force, and thus is doing negative work. This is the same principle that allows ice skaters to increase their spinning speed.
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A mouse sits at the edge of a diameter record, rotating on a turntable at fifteen revolutions per minute. If the mouse walks straight inwards to a point from the center, what will be its new angular velocity? Assume the mass of the record is negligible.
A mouse sits at the edge of a
Tap to reveal answer
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
Relevant equations:
Write an expression for the initial angular momentum.
Write an expression for the final angular momentum.
Apply conservation of angular momentum, setting these two expressions equal to one another.
Solve for the final angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
An ice skater begins to spin, starting with his arms spread out as far as possible, parallel to the ice. He pulls his arms into his body, and then raises them completely vertically towards the ceiling. As the skater pulls his arms inward, his angular velocity will , and as he raises his arms vertically his angular velocity will .
Tap to reveal answer
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
Through conservation of angular momentum, as moment of inertia decreases, the angular velocity increases. Moment of inertia is dependent on the distribution of the spinning body's mass away from the center of mass—as the skater brings his arms in, he lowers his moment of inertia, thus increasing his angular velocity. If he raises his arms completely vertically from this point, it does not change the radius of mass distributions (from the center of his body), thus maintaining his angular velocity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Sarah spins a ball of mass attached to a string of length around her head with a velocity . If the ball splits in half, losing exactly one-half of its mass instantaneously, what is its new velocity, ?
Sarah spins a ball of mass
Tap to reveal answer
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum , is equal to the product of the mass, angular velocity, and radius (or length of the rope in this case). The equation relating these terms is:
Here, is the initial mass, is the initial angular velocity, and is the length of the rope, which remains constant. Angular momentum must be conserved, thus:
Substitute.
We are given that and is the final velocity. Plug in and solve.
By the conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum
Here,
Substitute.
We are given that
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity, . The child begins to walk slowly toward the edge of the platform. Which quantity will decrease as the child walks?
A child is standing at the center of a frictionless, rotating platform. Both the child and the platform are rotating with and initial angular velocity,
Tap to reveal answer
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an term in the kinetic energy expression, as decreased due to the increase of inertia, it affects the energy more, and it decreases. From the reference frame of the disk, the child feels an outward directed force, and thus is doing negative work. This is the same principle that allows ice skaters to increase their spinning speed.
Since the platform is frictionless, as the child walks, angular momentum is conserved. However, since there is an
← Didn't Know|Knew It →