angular momentum

American  

noun

Physics.

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

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angular momentum British  

noun

1. 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

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angular momentum Scientific  

/ ăng′gyə-lər /

1. 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.

2. See also Planck's constant spin

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Etymology

Origin of angular momentum

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

In the ferromagnetic state, spins, the angular momentum of subatomic particles and nuclei, align in one direction, just like how flocking birds face the same direction while flying.

From Science Daily

Stars from the same pre-merger galaxy share similar values for both their energy and what physicists call angular momentum -- the momentum associated with orbital motion or rotation.

From Science Daily

"The research was conducted by employing helical light beams carrying orbital angular momentum to probe the optical properties of amorphous and crystalline materials," explains Professor Bhardwaj.

From Science Daily

While electrons don't technically "spin" like a top, they do possess the same kind of angular momentum.

From Science Daily

It’s certainly true that Earth’s rotation has slowed over billions of years, as Earth loses angular momentum to our planet’s tides.

From National Geographic