A particle moves in a straight line with a constant velocity. What is the angular momentum of the particle about a point not on the line of motion?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
A particle moves in a straight line with a constant velocity. What is the angular momentum of the particle about a point not on the line of motion?
Zero
Depends on the distance from the point
Infinite
Constant
The angular momentum is non-zero and depends on the distance from the point to the line of motion.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: A particle moves in a straight line with a constant velocity. What is the angular momentum of the particle about a point not on the line of motion?
Solution: The angular momentum is non-zero and depends on the distance from the point to the line of motion.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand that angular momentum is a measure of how much motion a particle has around a point.
Step 2: Recognize that the particle is moving in a straight line with a constant velocity.
Step 3: Identify the point that is not on the line of motion. This point is where we will calculate the angular momentum.
Step 4: Determine the distance from the point to the line of motion. This distance is important for calculating angular momentum.
Step 5: Use the formula for angular momentum (L = r * p), where 'L' is angular momentum, 'r' is the distance from the point to the line of motion, and 'p' is the linear momentum of the particle (mass times velocity).
Step 6: Since the particle has a constant velocity, its linear momentum (p) is constant.
Step 7: Conclude that the angular momentum is non-zero because there is a distance (r) from the point to the line of motion, and it depends on this distance.
