angular momentum

angular momentum

n.

1. The vector product of the position vector (from a reference point) and the linear momentum of a particle.

2. The vector sum of the angular momentums of each infinitesimal component particle of an extended body.

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angular momentum  (nggy-lr)

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 constantspin

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

angular momentum - the product of the momentum of a rotating body and its distance from the axis of rotation; "any rotating body has an angular momentum about its center of mass"; "angular momentum makes the world go round" momentum - the product of a body's mass and its velocity; "the momentum of the particles was deduced from meteoritic velocities"