Consider the motion of a ball, free of all forces, to be the constant
velocity path: x=a (a constant), and y= vt (v is its constant speed).
Its angular momentum about the origin (0,0) is simply m*a*v, a constant in
time. In the same way, Its angular momentum about any fixed point is a
constant in time .
Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em)
treborsci@verizon.net
www.sciamanda.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Lulai
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2014 1:36 PM
To: Phys-L@Phys-L.org
Subject: [Phys-L] angular momentum
Hello.
I am finding I have some questions about conservation of angular momentum
that I hadn't considered in the past. If I am investigating the angular
momentum of a soccer ball about a point, is angular momentum only conserved
if the ball is orbiting about the center of a circular path or a foci of an
ellipse? Certainly a ball traveling directly west across a field does not
have its angular momentum conserved.
I am completely excluding the idea of impulse, torques, and isolated systems
at this point. I just found I haven't thought about this aspect before.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Paul.
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@phys-l.org http://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l