Angular Momentum and Conservation of Angular Momentum - NEET Physics Questions
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Angular Momentum and Conservation of Angular Momentum

Question 1: difficult

A particle of mass 5g is moving with a uniform speed of 3 √2 cm/s in the x–y plane along the line y= 2 √5 cm. The magnitude of its angular momentum about the origin in g-cm²/s is

1. 0 (Zero)
2. 30
3. 30√2
4. 30√10
View Answer

The angular momentum

LL

of a particle about the origin is given by:

 

L=mvrsin⁡θL = m v r \sin\theta

 

where:


  • m=5m = 5
     

    g (mass of the particle),


  • v=32v = 3\sqrt{2}
     

    cm/s (speed of the particle),


  • r=25r = 2\sqrt{5}
     

    cm (perpendicular distance from the origin),


  • θ=90∘\theta = 90^\circ
     

    (since the velocity is along a straight line parallel to the x-axis, the perpendicular distance is directly used).

Since

sin⁡90∘=1\sin 90^\circ = 1

, the equation simplifies to:

 

L=mvrL = m v r

 

Substituting the given values:

 

L=(5)×(32)×(25)L = (5) \times (3\sqrt{2}) \times (2\sqrt{5})

 

L=5×3×2×10L = 5 \times 3 \times 2 \times \sqrt{10}

 

L=3010 g-cm²/sL = 30 \sqrt{10} \text{ g-cm²/s}

 

Thus, the magnitude of the angular momentum is:

 

3010 g-cm²/s\mathbf{30\sqrt{10} \text{ g-cm²/s}}

 

Question 2: difficult

A particle of mass $m = 5$ is moving with a uniform speed $v = 3\sqrt{2}$ in the XOY plane along the line $Y = X + 4$. The magnitude of the angular momentum of the particle about the origin is:

(1991)

1. $60 \text{ units}$
2. $40\sqrt{2} \text{ units}$
3. Zero
4. $7.5 \text{ units}$
View Answer

Angular momentum $L = mvr_{\perp}$. The line equation is $X - Y + 4 = 0$.
The perpendicular distance $r_{\perp}$ from the origin $(0,0)$ to the line is $\frac{|0 - 0 + 4|}{\sqrt{1^2 + (-1)^2}} = \frac{4}{\sqrt{2}} = 2\sqrt{2}$.
Thus, $L = 5 \times (3\sqrt{2}) \times (2\sqrt{2}) = 60 \text{ units}$.

Question 3: difficult

A planet is moving in an elliptical orbit around the sun. If $T$, $V$, $E$ and $L$ stand respectively for its kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, total energy and magnitude of angular momentum about the centre of force, which of the following is correct?

(1990)

1. $T$ is conserved
2. $V$ is always positive
3. $E$ is always negative
4. $L$ is conserved but direction of vector $L$ changes continuously
View Answer

For a bound elliptical orbit, total energy $E$ is always negative. $T$ and $V$ vary with distance, and $L$ is conserved in both magnitude and direction as Torque is Zero. Gravitational force is passing through Center of Rotation so Toque is zero.