What is angular momentum?

Angular momentum is defined as the measure of an object's rotational motion. It is a vector quantity that represents the rotational analog of linear momentum and is calculated based on the object's moment of inertia and angular velocity. Angular momentum plays a significant role in physics, particularly in the study of rotational dynamics.

In mathematical terms, angular momentum (L) can be expressed as the product of the moment of inertia (I) and the angular velocity (ω), represented by the equation L = Iω. This relationship highlights how an object's mass distribution and rotational speed contribute to its overall rotational motion.

Understanding angular momentum is crucial in various physical phenomena, such as the conservation of angular momentum, which states that in the absence of external torques, the total angular momentum of a system remains constant. This principle is observable in systems like spinning ice skaters who pull in their arms to spin faster, demonstrating how changes in the distribution of mass can affect rotational motion while conserving angular momentum.