A child sitting at the edge of a merry-go-round throws a ball tangentially. What
Practice Questions
Q1
A child sitting at the edge of a merry-go-round throws a ball tangentially. What happens to the angular momentum of the system (merry-go-round + child + ball)?
Increases
Decreases
Remains constant
Becomes zero
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A child sitting at the edge of a merry-go-round throws a ball tangentially. What happens to the angular momentum of the system (merry-go-round + child + ball)?
Step 1: Understand what angular momentum is. Angular momentum is a measure of how much motion an object has when it is rotating or moving in a circular path.
Step 2: Identify the system we are looking at. The system includes the merry-go-round, the child, and the ball.
Step 3: Recognize that when the child throws the ball, they are applying a force that changes the motion of the ball.
Step 4: Note that the ball is thrown tangentially, meaning it moves in a straight line away from the edge of the merry-go-round.
Step 5: Understand the principle of conservation of angular momentum. This principle states that if no external forces are acting on a system, the total angular momentum of the system remains constant.
Step 6: Realize that when the child throws the ball, the angular momentum of the ball is added to the system, but the child and merry-go-round will adjust their motion to keep the total angular momentum the same.
Step 7: Conclude that the total angular momentum of the system (merry-go-round + child + ball) remains constant.
Conservation of Angular Momentum – In a closed system with no external torques, the total angular momentum remains constant.
Tangential Motion – When the child throws the ball tangentially, it affects the distribution of angular momentum but not the total.
