angular momentum

noun

, Physics.

the product of the moment of inertia of a body about an axis and its angular velocity with respect to the same axis.

angular momentum

a property of a mass or system of masses turning about some fixed point; it is conserved in the absence of the action of external forces

angular momentum

/ ăng′gyə-lər /

A measure of the momentum of a body in rotational motion. The angular momentum of rigid bodies is conserved; thus, a spinning sphere will continue to spin unless acted on by an outside force. Changes in angular momentum are equivalent to torque . In classical mechanics, angular momentum is equal to the product of the angular velocity of the body and its moment of inertia around the axis of rotation. It is a vector quantity; the vector points up along the axis of counterclockwise rotation. In quantum mechanics, the angular momentum of a physical system is quantized and can only take on discrete values.
See also Planck's constant

First recorded in 1865–70

When it came around again, he would be able to compute the angular momentum of the gigantic rock.

Angular momentum one point one times ten to the twenty-first gram centimeters squared per second.

The elimination of ψ between the equation of conservation of angular momentum about the vertical, viz.

I writhed and squirmed and made every use of the law of conservation of angular momentum until I had my back to Nelly.

The second general result is the Principle of Angular Momentum.

Browse