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This document discusses angular momentum and its applications. It defines angular momentum as the product of an object's moment of inertia and angular velocity. The conservation of angular momentum is explained, where angular momentum remains constant if no external torques act on an object. Examples are given of how changes in an object's moment of inertia can affect its angular velocity. Applications to sports like spinning, diving, and throwing curved balls are described.

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Roger Melko
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91 views18 pages

Sports

This document discusses angular momentum and its applications. It defines angular momentum as the product of an object's moment of inertia and angular velocity. The conservation of angular momentum is explained, where angular momentum remains constant if no external torques act on an object. Examples are given of how changes in an object's moment of inertia can affect its angular velocity. Applications to sports like spinning, diving, and throwing curved balls are described.

Uploaded by

Roger Melko
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sports and Angular

Momentum
Dennis Silverman
Bill Heidbrink
U. C. Irvine
Overview
Angular Motion
Angular Momentum
Moment of Inertia
Conservation of Angular Momentum
Sports body mechanics and angular
momentum
Angular Momentum and Stability
How a baseball curves
Angular Momentum
 Linear momentum or quantity of motion is
P = mv, and inertia given by mass m.
 mv
 Rotation of a mass m about an axis, zero
when on axis, so should involve distance
from axis r
 Angular momentum L = r mv
L
r m
Circular Motion
• The angle θ subtended by a distance s on
the circumference of a circle of radius r

r
Radians
• Instead of measuring the angle θ in degrees
(360 to a circle), we can measure in pizza pi
slices such that there are 2π = 6.28 to a full
circle
• So each radian slice is about a sixth of a circle
or 57.3 degrees.
• Then we can write directly: s = θ r with θ in
radians.
• When a complete circle is traversed, θ = 2π, and
s = 2π r, the circumference.
Angular Velocity
• When a wheel is rotating uniformly about
its axis, the angle θ changes at a rate
called ω, while the distance s changes at a
rate called its velocity v.
• Then s = r θ gives
• v = r ω.
Angular Momentum and
Moment of Inertia
• Let’s recall the angular momentum
• L = r m v = r m (ω r)
• L = m r² ω
• In a “rigid body”, all parts rotate at the same
angular velocity ω, so we can sum mr² over all
parts of the body, to give
• I = Σ mr², the moment of inertia of the body.
• The total angular momentum is then
• L = I ω.
Conservation of Angular
Momentum
• If there are no outside forces acting on a
symmetrical rotating body, angular momentum is
conserved, essentially by symmetry.
• The effect of a uniform gravitational field cancels
out over the whole body, and angular
momentum is still conserved.
• L also involves a direction, where the axis is the
thumb if the motion is followed by the fingers of
the right hand.
Examples of Moment of Inertia
• Hammer thrower
• Stick about different rotation axes
• Diver
• Baseball bat
• Pop quiz
Applications of Conservation of
Angular Momentum
• If the moment of inertial I1 changes to I2 ,
say by shortening r, then the angular
velocity must also change to conserve
angular momentum.
• L = I1 ω1 = I2 ω2
• Example: Rotating with weights out,
pulling weights in shortens r, decreasing I
and increasing ω.
Examples of Changes in
Moment of Inertia
• Pulling arms in to do spins in ice skating
• Tucking while diving to do rolls
• Bicycle wheel flip demo
• Space station video
Rotating different parts of body
• Ballet pirouette
• Balancing beam
• Ice skater balancing
• Falling cat or rabbit landing upright
• Rodeo bull rider
• Ski turns
• Ski jumping video
Angular Momentum for Stability
• Bicycle or motorcycle riding
• Football pass or lateral spinning
• Spinning top
• Frisbee
• Spinning gyroscopes for orbital orientation
• Helicopter
• Rifling of rifle barrel
• Earth rotation for daily constancy and seasons
Curving of spinning balls

Bernoulli’s Equation (1738)


Magnus Force (1852)
Rayleigh Calculation (1877)
Bernoulli’s Principle
• Follow the flow of a certain constant volume of
fluid ΔV =A*Δx, even though A and Δx change
• Pressure is P=F/A
• Energy input is Force*distance
Δ
E = F*Δx=(PA)*Δx=P*ΔV
• kinetic energy is E=½ρv²ΔV
• So by energy conservation, P+½ρv² is a
constant
• When v increases, P decreases, and vice-versa
Bernoulli’s Principal and Flight
• Lift on an airplane wing
V higher
P lower

P normal

v higher above wing, so pressure lower


Air around a rotating baseball, from
ball’s top point of view
Higher v, lower P on right Pright

Boundary layer

Lower v, higher P on left


So ball curves to right Pleft
Examples of curving balls
Baseball curve pitch
Baseball outfield throw with backspin for
longer distance
Tennis topspin to keep ball down
Soccer (Beckham) curve around to goal
Golf ball dimpling and backspin for range
Deflection d = ½ a t² most at end of range

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