Practice question · Sort into groups
Sort: is angular momentum conserved or not in each scenario?
Groups: Conserved · Not conserved
- Gyroscope on a stand (torque from gravity)
- Ice skater pulling arms in
- Wheel slowed by brake friction
- Spinning top with no friction
- Two disks coupling on a shared axle
- Planet orbiting the Sun
Hints
- Ask whether any external torque acts on the system.
- Internal forces cannot change the total.
Show the answer
Conserved: Spinning top with no friction, Planet orbiting the Sun, Ice skater pulling arms in, Two disks coupling on a shared axle
Not conserved: Wheel slowed by brake friction, Gyroscope on a stand (torque from gravity)
Why
Angular momentum is conserved when net external torque is zero.
Practise Angular Momentum and Conservation
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