## FurtherForward Group Title What does it mean to say that angular momentum is conserved? one year ago one year ago

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1. Vincent-Lyon.Fr Group Title

It means, that unless you apply an external net torque to a system, its angular momentum will not change in time.

2. siddhantsharan Group Title

^^ If the moment of inertia is constant. This statement is incorrect if : |dw:1360225020292:dw|

3. Vincent-Lyon.Fr Group Title

4. siddhantsharan Group Title

Yeah. What I was saying is basically a little thing that we always ignore, however it is still a possibility. Torque is defined as rate of change of angular momentum. Which is $\tau = d(I \omega)/dt$ This is actually, $I(d \omega /dt) + (dI/dt) \omega$ Using the product rule for differenciation. In your statement you have assumed that $dI/dt = 0$ That is agreed, usually the case, However a small case two arises when the rate of change of angular mommentum is zero, i.e. Angular momentum is constant BUT there is still a net torque on the system. That is when, The system is a non-relavistic sstem. Otherwise, The comment that I mentioned above may also be the case. I may chenge with time when mass is being perhaps ejected or it's distance from the axis of rotation is bieng chenged, etc.

5. siddhantsharan Group Title

Check the last line under "Proof for equivalance relations" here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque @Vincent-Lyon.Fr

6. Vincent-Lyon.Fr Group Title

Re-read my statement, I never assume that dI/dt BUT I assumed that the system was closed, as is usually the case when you quote "conservation of angular momentum". Of course, if the system is open and ejects matter, the angular momentum of the OPEN system will change without net torque applied. The initial question was : "What does it mean to say that angular momentum is conserved?" It implies the explanation of a general relation, not a particular one, where this would be the case with lots of ad-hoc conditions to meet the criteria.

7. siddhantsharan Group Title

Right you are. My bad. That is correct. I misunderstood. :)