Simple Question About Conservation of Angular Momentum
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Lately I encountered a question in my physic book very simple looking but I can't understand why what I am thinking is wrong because I didn't satisfied from the right answer showed in a video about it, First I'll try to explain the question as best as I can;
From a certain height a cat is being dropped back-side down and cat is rotating his body while falling and landing on his four legs.
According to this situation which statements bellow are right;
I. Cat's angular momentum has conserved while falling.
II. Cat's kinetic energy increases along the falling.
III. Cat's angular momentum increases along the falling.
The answer is I and II but my answer was II and III because I thought while falling cat's velocity will increase due to gravitational force and if ''V'' increases Kinetic energy increases so II is in the pocket but then for angular momentum I know that if there are no acting force on an object than the angular momentum will be preserved but doesn't gravitational force considered as an force that will change the angular momentum? or am I missing something?
homework-and-exercises newtonian-mechanics angular-momentum
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Lately I encountered a question in my physic book very simple looking but I can't understand why what I am thinking is wrong because I didn't satisfied from the right answer showed in a video about it, First I'll try to explain the question as best as I can;
From a certain height a cat is being dropped back-side down and cat is rotating his body while falling and landing on his four legs.
According to this situation which statements bellow are right;
I. Cat's angular momentum has conserved while falling.
II. Cat's kinetic energy increases along the falling.
III. Cat's angular momentum increases along the falling.
The answer is I and II but my answer was II and III because I thought while falling cat's velocity will increase due to gravitational force and if ''V'' increases Kinetic energy increases so II is in the pocket but then for angular momentum I know that if there are no acting force on an object than the angular momentum will be preserved but doesn't gravitational force considered as an force that will change the angular momentum? or am I missing something?
homework-and-exercises newtonian-mechanics angular-momentum
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Lately I encountered a question in my physic book very simple looking but I can't understand why what I am thinking is wrong because I didn't satisfied from the right answer showed in a video about it, First I'll try to explain the question as best as I can;
From a certain height a cat is being dropped back-side down and cat is rotating his body while falling and landing on his four legs.
According to this situation which statements bellow are right;
I. Cat's angular momentum has conserved while falling.
II. Cat's kinetic energy increases along the falling.
III. Cat's angular momentum increases along the falling.
The answer is I and II but my answer was II and III because I thought while falling cat's velocity will increase due to gravitational force and if ''V'' increases Kinetic energy increases so II is in the pocket but then for angular momentum I know that if there are no acting force on an object than the angular momentum will be preserved but doesn't gravitational force considered as an force that will change the angular momentum? or am I missing something?
homework-and-exercises newtonian-mechanics angular-momentum
$endgroup$
Lately I encountered a question in my physic book very simple looking but I can't understand why what I am thinking is wrong because I didn't satisfied from the right answer showed in a video about it, First I'll try to explain the question as best as I can;
From a certain height a cat is being dropped back-side down and cat is rotating his body while falling and landing on his four legs.
According to this situation which statements bellow are right;
I. Cat's angular momentum has conserved while falling.
II. Cat's kinetic energy increases along the falling.
III. Cat's angular momentum increases along the falling.
The answer is I and II but my answer was II and III because I thought while falling cat's velocity will increase due to gravitational force and if ''V'' increases Kinetic energy increases so II is in the pocket but then for angular momentum I know that if there are no acting force on an object than the angular momentum will be preserved but doesn't gravitational force considered as an force that will change the angular momentum? or am I missing something?
homework-and-exercises newtonian-mechanics angular-momentum
homework-and-exercises newtonian-mechanics angular-momentum
asked 20 hours ago
Emin Berk ÜnalEmin Berk Ünal
643
643
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
To change angular momentum, a torque must be applied. Since gravity pulls every part of the cat with a force proportional to its mass (that is, with the same acceleration), there is no net torque on the free falling cat, and thus no change in angular momentum.
This is true for any free falling object, but not necessarily if it is supported at any point. The support together with the gravitational force can apply a torque and therefore change angular momentum.
As to how the cat manages to turn around even with no net torque, this is known as the Falling cat problem, and is visualized nicely in this very disturbing animation from Wikipedia
The rotation is based on the fact that the cat is not a rigid body, and can thus bend in a way that results in its reorientation.
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$begingroup$
Wow that is so interesting I didnt know there was a thing like this it seems like there is some physic tricks going behind this. I need more time to observe it to understand better but at least I know which way I have to think now, many thanks!
$endgroup$
– Emin Berk Ünal
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Slow Motion Flipping Cat Physics ... good video and channel :)
$endgroup$
– Steve
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
An external force like the gravitational force acts on an object like if it acts on its center of mass. Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis, this would mean that the gravitational force doesn't give any angular momentum to the cat.
In general, a force does not always give angular momentum to an object. It will if the force is applied at a certain distance from the rotation axis.
The gravitational force can indeed give angular momentum to a system. Think of a pendulum that you drop after raising it from it's rest position. In that scenario, the rotation axis is the pendulum holding point and the center of mass would be close to the end of the pendulum. Thus, the gravitational force acts away from the rotational axis and the pendulum will start to rotate around its holding point, thus gaining angular momentum.
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$begingroup$
Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis Why assume something that is (trivially) true? A free body will always rotate exactly around its center of mass.
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– Sanchises
14 hours ago
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Furthermore, in your pendulum problem, it's not the force of gravity that imparts angular momentum to a system, but the reaction force from the attachment point.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The problem is flawed because it does not specify which axis we are supposed to be measuring the angular momentum around.
Angular momentum is always specified relative to an axis of rotation. However, you can always split the total angular momentum of an object into two parts, $L_{total} = L_{external}+L_{CM}$.
The first part is the angular momentum of the whole object around some external axis of rotation. Specifically, $L_{external} = vec{R}_{CM}times vec{P}_{CM}$ where $vec{R}_{CM}$ is the position vector of the center of mass of the object, and $vec{P}_{CM}$ is the momentum of the center of mass.
The second part is the internal angular momentum, or the angular momentum of the object measured around its own center of mass.
Gravity can change the external angular momentum, depending on the axis of rotation you choose. The torque from gravity around an external center of mass is just the weight of the object times the horizontal distance of the center of mass from the axis.
What the question is probably trying to get, however, at is the fact that gravity cannot change the internal angular momentum of an object. Since gravity "acts" at the center of mass, the torque of gravity around the center of mass is always zero!
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Your Answer
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
To change angular momentum, a torque must be applied. Since gravity pulls every part of the cat with a force proportional to its mass (that is, with the same acceleration), there is no net torque on the free falling cat, and thus no change in angular momentum.
This is true for any free falling object, but not necessarily if it is supported at any point. The support together with the gravitational force can apply a torque and therefore change angular momentum.
As to how the cat manages to turn around even with no net torque, this is known as the Falling cat problem, and is visualized nicely in this very disturbing animation from Wikipedia
The rotation is based on the fact that the cat is not a rigid body, and can thus bend in a way that results in its reorientation.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Wow that is so interesting I didnt know there was a thing like this it seems like there is some physic tricks going behind this. I need more time to observe it to understand better but at least I know which way I have to think now, many thanks!
$endgroup$
– Emin Berk Ünal
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Slow Motion Flipping Cat Physics ... good video and channel :)
$endgroup$
– Steve
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
To change angular momentum, a torque must be applied. Since gravity pulls every part of the cat with a force proportional to its mass (that is, with the same acceleration), there is no net torque on the free falling cat, and thus no change in angular momentum.
This is true for any free falling object, but not necessarily if it is supported at any point. The support together with the gravitational force can apply a torque and therefore change angular momentum.
As to how the cat manages to turn around even with no net torque, this is known as the Falling cat problem, and is visualized nicely in this very disturbing animation from Wikipedia
The rotation is based on the fact that the cat is not a rigid body, and can thus bend in a way that results in its reorientation.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Wow that is so interesting I didnt know there was a thing like this it seems like there is some physic tricks going behind this. I need more time to observe it to understand better but at least I know which way I have to think now, many thanks!
$endgroup$
– Emin Berk Ünal
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Slow Motion Flipping Cat Physics ... good video and channel :)
$endgroup$
– Steve
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
To change angular momentum, a torque must be applied. Since gravity pulls every part of the cat with a force proportional to its mass (that is, with the same acceleration), there is no net torque on the free falling cat, and thus no change in angular momentum.
This is true for any free falling object, but not necessarily if it is supported at any point. The support together with the gravitational force can apply a torque and therefore change angular momentum.
As to how the cat manages to turn around even with no net torque, this is known as the Falling cat problem, and is visualized nicely in this very disturbing animation from Wikipedia
The rotation is based on the fact that the cat is not a rigid body, and can thus bend in a way that results in its reorientation.
$endgroup$
To change angular momentum, a torque must be applied. Since gravity pulls every part of the cat with a force proportional to its mass (that is, with the same acceleration), there is no net torque on the free falling cat, and thus no change in angular momentum.
This is true for any free falling object, but not necessarily if it is supported at any point. The support together with the gravitational force can apply a torque and therefore change angular momentum.
As to how the cat manages to turn around even with no net torque, this is known as the Falling cat problem, and is visualized nicely in this very disturbing animation from Wikipedia
The rotation is based on the fact that the cat is not a rigid body, and can thus bend in a way that results in its reorientation.
edited 14 hours ago
answered 19 hours ago
noahnoah
2,974721
2,974721
$begingroup$
Wow that is so interesting I didnt know there was a thing like this it seems like there is some physic tricks going behind this. I need more time to observe it to understand better but at least I know which way I have to think now, many thanks!
$endgroup$
– Emin Berk Ünal
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Slow Motion Flipping Cat Physics ... good video and channel :)
$endgroup$
– Steve
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Wow that is so interesting I didnt know there was a thing like this it seems like there is some physic tricks going behind this. I need more time to observe it to understand better but at least I know which way I have to think now, many thanks!
$endgroup$
– Emin Berk Ünal
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Slow Motion Flipping Cat Physics ... good video and channel :)
$endgroup$
– Steve
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Wow that is so interesting I didnt know there was a thing like this it seems like there is some physic tricks going behind this. I need more time to observe it to understand better but at least I know which way I have to think now, many thanks!
$endgroup$
– Emin Berk Ünal
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Wow that is so interesting I didnt know there was a thing like this it seems like there is some physic tricks going behind this. I need more time to observe it to understand better but at least I know which way I have to think now, many thanks!
$endgroup$
– Emin Berk Ünal
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Slow Motion Flipping Cat Physics ... good video and channel :)
$endgroup$
– Steve
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Slow Motion Flipping Cat Physics ... good video and channel :)
$endgroup$
– Steve
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
An external force like the gravitational force acts on an object like if it acts on its center of mass. Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis, this would mean that the gravitational force doesn't give any angular momentum to the cat.
In general, a force does not always give angular momentum to an object. It will if the force is applied at a certain distance from the rotation axis.
The gravitational force can indeed give angular momentum to a system. Think of a pendulum that you drop after raising it from it's rest position. In that scenario, the rotation axis is the pendulum holding point and the center of mass would be close to the end of the pendulum. Thus, the gravitational force acts away from the rotational axis and the pendulum will start to rotate around its holding point, thus gaining angular momentum.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis Why assume something that is (trivially) true? A free body will always rotate exactly around its center of mass.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Furthermore, in your pendulum problem, it's not the force of gravity that imparts angular momentum to a system, but the reaction force from the attachment point.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
An external force like the gravitational force acts on an object like if it acts on its center of mass. Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis, this would mean that the gravitational force doesn't give any angular momentum to the cat.
In general, a force does not always give angular momentum to an object. It will if the force is applied at a certain distance from the rotation axis.
The gravitational force can indeed give angular momentum to a system. Think of a pendulum that you drop after raising it from it's rest position. In that scenario, the rotation axis is the pendulum holding point and the center of mass would be close to the end of the pendulum. Thus, the gravitational force acts away from the rotational axis and the pendulum will start to rotate around its holding point, thus gaining angular momentum.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis Why assume something that is (trivially) true? A free body will always rotate exactly around its center of mass.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Furthermore, in your pendulum problem, it's not the force of gravity that imparts angular momentum to a system, but the reaction force from the attachment point.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
An external force like the gravitational force acts on an object like if it acts on its center of mass. Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis, this would mean that the gravitational force doesn't give any angular momentum to the cat.
In general, a force does not always give angular momentum to an object. It will if the force is applied at a certain distance from the rotation axis.
The gravitational force can indeed give angular momentum to a system. Think of a pendulum that you drop after raising it from it's rest position. In that scenario, the rotation axis is the pendulum holding point and the center of mass would be close to the end of the pendulum. Thus, the gravitational force acts away from the rotational axis and the pendulum will start to rotate around its holding point, thus gaining angular momentum.
$endgroup$
An external force like the gravitational force acts on an object like if it acts on its center of mass. Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis, this would mean that the gravitational force doesn't give any angular momentum to the cat.
In general, a force does not always give angular momentum to an object. It will if the force is applied at a certain distance from the rotation axis.
The gravitational force can indeed give angular momentum to a system. Think of a pendulum that you drop after raising it from it's rest position. In that scenario, the rotation axis is the pendulum holding point and the center of mass would be close to the end of the pendulum. Thus, the gravitational force acts away from the rotational axis and the pendulum will start to rotate around its holding point, thus gaining angular momentum.
answered 19 hours ago
fgoudrafgoudra
43927
43927
$begingroup$
Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis Why assume something that is (trivially) true? A free body will always rotate exactly around its center of mass.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Furthermore, in your pendulum problem, it's not the force of gravity that imparts angular momentum to a system, but the reaction force from the attachment point.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis Why assume something that is (trivially) true? A free body will always rotate exactly around its center of mass.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Furthermore, in your pendulum problem, it's not the force of gravity that imparts angular momentum to a system, but the reaction force from the attachment point.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis Why assume something that is (trivially) true? A free body will always rotate exactly around its center of mass.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Assuming the cat's center of mass is very close to its rotational axis Why assume something that is (trivially) true? A free body will always rotate exactly around its center of mass.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Furthermore, in your pendulum problem, it's not the force of gravity that imparts angular momentum to a system, but the reaction force from the attachment point.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
Furthermore, in your pendulum problem, it's not the force of gravity that imparts angular momentum to a system, but the reaction force from the attachment point.
$endgroup$
– Sanchises
14 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The problem is flawed because it does not specify which axis we are supposed to be measuring the angular momentum around.
Angular momentum is always specified relative to an axis of rotation. However, you can always split the total angular momentum of an object into two parts, $L_{total} = L_{external}+L_{CM}$.
The first part is the angular momentum of the whole object around some external axis of rotation. Specifically, $L_{external} = vec{R}_{CM}times vec{P}_{CM}$ where $vec{R}_{CM}$ is the position vector of the center of mass of the object, and $vec{P}_{CM}$ is the momentum of the center of mass.
The second part is the internal angular momentum, or the angular momentum of the object measured around its own center of mass.
Gravity can change the external angular momentum, depending on the axis of rotation you choose. The torque from gravity around an external center of mass is just the weight of the object times the horizontal distance of the center of mass from the axis.
What the question is probably trying to get, however, at is the fact that gravity cannot change the internal angular momentum of an object. Since gravity "acts" at the center of mass, the torque of gravity around the center of mass is always zero!
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The problem is flawed because it does not specify which axis we are supposed to be measuring the angular momentum around.
Angular momentum is always specified relative to an axis of rotation. However, you can always split the total angular momentum of an object into two parts, $L_{total} = L_{external}+L_{CM}$.
The first part is the angular momentum of the whole object around some external axis of rotation. Specifically, $L_{external} = vec{R}_{CM}times vec{P}_{CM}$ where $vec{R}_{CM}$ is the position vector of the center of mass of the object, and $vec{P}_{CM}$ is the momentum of the center of mass.
The second part is the internal angular momentum, or the angular momentum of the object measured around its own center of mass.
Gravity can change the external angular momentum, depending on the axis of rotation you choose. The torque from gravity around an external center of mass is just the weight of the object times the horizontal distance of the center of mass from the axis.
What the question is probably trying to get, however, at is the fact that gravity cannot change the internal angular momentum of an object. Since gravity "acts" at the center of mass, the torque of gravity around the center of mass is always zero!
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The problem is flawed because it does not specify which axis we are supposed to be measuring the angular momentum around.
Angular momentum is always specified relative to an axis of rotation. However, you can always split the total angular momentum of an object into two parts, $L_{total} = L_{external}+L_{CM}$.
The first part is the angular momentum of the whole object around some external axis of rotation. Specifically, $L_{external} = vec{R}_{CM}times vec{P}_{CM}$ where $vec{R}_{CM}$ is the position vector of the center of mass of the object, and $vec{P}_{CM}$ is the momentum of the center of mass.
The second part is the internal angular momentum, or the angular momentum of the object measured around its own center of mass.
Gravity can change the external angular momentum, depending on the axis of rotation you choose. The torque from gravity around an external center of mass is just the weight of the object times the horizontal distance of the center of mass from the axis.
What the question is probably trying to get, however, at is the fact that gravity cannot change the internal angular momentum of an object. Since gravity "acts" at the center of mass, the torque of gravity around the center of mass is always zero!
$endgroup$
The problem is flawed because it does not specify which axis we are supposed to be measuring the angular momentum around.
Angular momentum is always specified relative to an axis of rotation. However, you can always split the total angular momentum of an object into two parts, $L_{total} = L_{external}+L_{CM}$.
The first part is the angular momentum of the whole object around some external axis of rotation. Specifically, $L_{external} = vec{R}_{CM}times vec{P}_{CM}$ where $vec{R}_{CM}$ is the position vector of the center of mass of the object, and $vec{P}_{CM}$ is the momentum of the center of mass.
The second part is the internal angular momentum, or the angular momentum of the object measured around its own center of mass.
Gravity can change the external angular momentum, depending on the axis of rotation you choose. The torque from gravity around an external center of mass is just the weight of the object times the horizontal distance of the center of mass from the axis.
What the question is probably trying to get, however, at is the fact that gravity cannot change the internal angular momentum of an object. Since gravity "acts" at the center of mass, the torque of gravity around the center of mass is always zero!
answered 12 hours ago
Luke PritchettLuke Pritchett
2,613711
2,613711
add a comment |
add a comment |
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