Angular Momentum

Angular Momentum For A Rigid Body

For a rigid body experiencing planar (two-dimensional) motion, the angular momentum is given by the following general scalar equation:

Where:

H_G is the angular momentum of the rigid body about the center of mass G

I_G is the moment of inertia of the rigid body about an axis passing through the center of mass G, and perpendicular to the plane of motion

w is the angular velocity of the rigid body, with respect to ground

The figure below illustrates the general case where a rigid body is experiencing planar (two-dimensional) motion.

Note that H_G is actually a vector quantity having magnitude I_Gw. But since the direction of H_G is always perpendicular to the plane of motion, we can drop the vector notation.

If the rigid body has a fixed point O that is attached to ground, we can compute the angular momentum of the rigid body about point O instead of point G. The only difference from equation (1) is that the moment of inertia will be evaluated about an axis passing through point O, and perpendicular to the plane of motion.

The figure below illustrates the case where a rigid body is experiencing planar (two-dimensional) motion, and is rotating about a fixed point O.

For a rigid body experiencing planar (two-dimensional) motion, and rotating about a fixed point O, the angular momentum can be expressed as:

Where:

H_o is the angular momentum of the rigid body about point O

I_o is the moment of inertia of the rigid body about an axis passing through the fixed point O, and perpendicular to the plane of motion

w is the angular velocity of the rigid body, with respect to ground

For a rigid body experiencing planar (two-dimensional) motion, the sum of the moments about the center of mass G is equal to the rate of change of angular momentum about the center of mass G. Thus,

And if the rigid body is rotating about a fixed point O, we can write

The left side of equations (3) and (4) represents the sum of the moments, either about point G or point O.

Dropping the subscripts G and O we can write

Integrate this equation from time t_i to time t_f and we have

The term on the left is defined as the external impulse acting on the rigid body (between t_i and t_f), due to the sum of the external moments acting on the rigid body (either about point G or a fixed point O on the rigid body).

If no external moments act on the rigid body (either about point G or a fixed point O), then

Angular momentum is therefore conserved for the rigid body (between t_i and t_f). Note that the above equation also applies for the case where the moment of inertia I is not constant, such as when the body is deforming (i.e. not rigid).

For general three-dimensional motion, the angular momentum of a rigid body is given by the following general scalar equations:

Where:

H_x is the x-component of the angular momentum of the rigid body

H_y is the y-component of the angular momentum of the rigid body

H_z is the z-component of the angular momentum of the rigid body

w_x, w_y, w_z are the components of the angular velocity of the rigid body with respect to ground, and resolved along the local xyz axes (see figure below). To calculate these components, one must first determine the angular velocity vector of the rigid body with respect to the global XYZ axes, and then resolve this vector along the x, y, z directions to find the components w_x, w_y, w_z. This is often done using trigonometry.

I_x is the moment of inertia of the rigid body about the local x-axis, passing through the center of mass G (see figure below)

I_y is the moment of inertia of the rigid body about the local y-axis, passing through the center of mass G (see figure below)

I_z is the moment of inertia of the rigid body about the local z-axis, passing through the center of mass G (see figure below)

I_xy is the product of inertia (xy) of the rigid body, relative to the xyz axes, with origin at point G

I_yz is the product of inertia (yz) of the rigid body, relative to the xyz axes, with origin at point G

I_zx is the product of inertia (zx) of the rigid body, relative to the xyz axes, with origin at point G

The moment of inertia terms are given by

The product of inertia terms are given by

Note that we can orient the local xyz axes so that the products of inertia I_xy, I_yz, I_zx all equal zero. As a result, the moments of inertia I_x, I_y, I_z become the principal moments of inertia. For every rigid body, principal directions of inertia exist. If a body has two or three planes of symmetry, the principal directions of inertia will be aligned with these planes.

If I_x, I_y, I_z are the principal moments of inertia, equations (6) are simplified, resulting in:

If the rigid body has a fixed point O that is attached to ground, equations (6) and (7) will also apply to point O. The only difference is that (in equations (6) and (7)) the local xyz axes has its origin at the fixed point O on the rigid body (instead of point G), as shown below. As a result, the moment of inertia terms and product of inertia terms are calculated relative to point O.

For a rigid body experiencing general three-dimensional motion, the sum of the moments about the center of mass G, or a fixed point O, is equal to the rate of change of angular momentum (either about the center of mass G or a fixed point O). Thus,

Note that the moments are calculated with their components resolved along the local xyz axes.

From equation (8),

Integrate this equation from time t_i to time t_f and we have

The term on the left is defined as the external impulse acting on the rigid body (between t_i and t_f), due to the sum of the external moments acting on the rigid body.

Once again, this equation applies for both cases where the local xyz axes has its origin at point G or a fixed point O on the rigid body.

If no external moments act on the rigid body (either about point G or a fixed point O), then

Angular momentum is therefore conserved for the rigid body (between t_i and t_f).

Derivation of the angular momentum equations for a rigid body (optional)

The equations for planar (two-dimensional) motion follow naturally from the equations for general three-dimensional motion, so it is only necessary to derive the equations for three-dimensional motion.

To derive the three-dimensional equations for the angular momentum of a rigid body we must apply the equation for angular momentum of a small mass element in the rigid body, and then sum it over the entire rigid body. The problem is set up as shown in the figure below.

Note that, for the proof that follows the local xyz axes has its origin at the center of mass G of the rigid body.

For a small mass element m_i in the rigid body we define the angular momentum relative to point G as:

Where:

r_iG is the position vector from point G to the location of m_i. This vector is measured relative to the local xyz axes

m_i is the mass of a small, arbitrary mass element in the rigid body. This mass element is small enough to be considered a particle

v_iG is the velocity vector of this mass element relative to point G, and resolved along the local xyz axes

Differentiate equation (10) with respect to time:

Now,

Therefore the first term on the right side of equation (11) is zero.

And from the equations for general motion of a rigid body:

Where:

v_i is the velocity vector of mass m_i with respect to an inertial reference frame (ground), and resolved along the local xyz axes. To calculate v_i, one must first determine v_i with respect to the global XYZ axes, and then resolve this vector along the local xyz axes. This is often done using trigonometry.

v_G is the velocity vector of point G with respect to an inertial reference frame (ground), and resolved along the local xyz axes. To calculate v_G, one must first determine v_G with respect to the global XYZ axes, and then resolve this vector along the local xyz axes. This is often done using trigonometry.

Differentiate equation (12) with respect to time:

Where:

a_i is the acceleration vector of mass m_i with respect to an inertial reference frame (ground), and resolved along the local xyz axes. To calculate a_i, one must first determine a_i with respect to the global XYZ axes, and then resolve this vector along the local xyz axes. This is often done using trigonometry.

a_G is the acceleration vector of point G with respect to an inertial reference frame (ground), and resolved along the local xyz axes. To calculate a_G, one must first determine a_G with respect to the global XYZ axes, and then resolve this vector along the local xyz axes. This is often done using trigonometry.

Substitute equation (13) into equation (11) and we get

By Newton’s Second Law,

where F_i is the (net) force vector acting on particle m_i.

Equation (14) becomes

Summing over all the particles m_i in the rigid body we have

The second term on the right is zero because a_G is constant over the summation and

To see why the above equation is true go to center of mass.

Thus,

By definition, the right side of this equation is the sum of the moments of the external forces acting on the rigid body, about point G.

The above equation tells us that the rate of change of angular momentum of the rigid body about point G is equal to the sum of the moments of the external forces acting on the body, about point G. This proves equation (8).

Now, let’s look again at equation (10):

From the equations for general motion of a rigid body:

It remains to carry out the vector cross product multiplications in this equation and then sum H_iG over the entire rigid body, using integration. Upon doing so we arrive at equations (6) for angular momentum relative to point G. The full derivation is not shown here, since it is mostly a mathematical exercise, similar to the derivation of the Euler equations.

Now, if we were to start from the beginning and assume a fixed point O on the rigid body instead of point G in the derivations, we would arrive at the same form of equations as (6)-(9). As mentioned before, the only difference is that the local xyz axes has its origin at the fixed point O on the rigid body (instead of point G). This means that the moment of inertia terms and product of inertia terms are calculated relative to point O. In addition, the sum of the moments would be taken about point O instead of point G.

Return from Angular Momentum to Dynamics page

Return from Angular Momentum to Real World Physics Problems home page