The conserved quantity arising from a rotational invariance. Combine with rotational-dynamics for the classical mechanics approach and quantum-mechanics for the QM interpretation
3
votes
1answer
62 views
For mesons, or baryons, do sea quarks contribute to the angular momentum of the bound state?
The total angular momentum of a bound state of quarks, such as a meson say, can be done by studying the spin and orbital angular momentum of the 2 valence quarks.
What about the sea quarks why they ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
How can I understand a Vortex Tube and its efficiency?
A Vortex Tube takes a pressurized input stream, most typically of a gas, and creates two output streams with a temperature differential. Apparently, it has been described as a Maxwell's Demon.
Both ...
3
votes
0answers
117 views
What is the Landé g factor?
What is the Landé g factor?
I know that it gives the relation between magnetic moment and angular moment, but i wanted to know why are those magnitudes related to each other and why is the magnetic ...
2
votes
2answers
318 views
Why do many people say vector fields describe spin-1 particle but omit the spin-0 part?
We know a vector field is a $(\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})$ representation of Lorentz group, which should describe both spin-1 and spin-0 particles. However many of the articles(mostly lecture notes) I've ...
2
votes
3answers
831 views
Proving angular momentum is conserved for a particle moving in a central force field $\vec F =\phi(r) \vec r$
A problem I am trying to work out is as follows:
A particle moves in a force field given by
$\vec F =\phi(r) \vec r$. Prove that the angular momentum of the particle about the origin is constant.
...
2
votes
2answers
150 views
In quantum mechanics(QM), can we define a high-dimensional “spin” angular momentum other than the ordinary 3D one?
Inspired by my previous question Questions about angular momentum and 3-dimensional(3D) space? and another relevant question How to define angular momentum in other than three dimensions? , now I get ...
2
votes
3answers
573 views
Why do rolling disc (coin) move in circular path?
We have a coin that is rolled such that it's tilted at an small angle $ \theta $.
Question:: What turns around rolling disc so that it traces circular motion (spiral as it's speed decreses)?
...
2
votes
2answers
122 views
Quantization of orbital angular momentum
Probably a very simple question, but I can't find the answer on the Internet.
I know nearly to nothing about quantum mechanics, but in statistical physics I'm confronted with the idea that the orbital ...
2
votes
1answer
187 views
What happens to a rotating rod that breaks in two?
I know that the approximation for the moment of inertia of an infinitely thin rod of mass $m$ and length $L$ spinning around an axis perpendicular to its own axis at its center is $\frac{mL^2}{3}$:
...
2
votes
3answers
470 views
How long for a frictionless top to fall over?
We've previously discussed why it is that spinning tops do not fall over, see: Why don't spinning tops fall over?
However, as the highest rated answer notes, the angular momentum of the spinning top ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Angular momentum equations
I do not understand this because angular momentum is $L=I\omega$ ($I$ is moment of inertia;$\omega$ is angular velocity) but it I have also seen equations where $L= rmv\sin(x)$. I do not understand ...
2
votes
1answer
113 views
Angular momentum conservation while internal frictional torque is present
So this appears in a problem which looks simple enough in its context; It's something like this:
Two discs, A and B, are mounted coaxially on a vertical axle. The discs have moments of inertia $I$ ...
2
votes
1answer
106 views
Questions about angular momentum and 3-dimensional(3D) space?
Q1: As we know, in classical mechanics(CM), according to Noether's theorem, there is always one conserved quantity corresponding to one particular symmetry. Now consider a classical system in a $n$ ...
2
votes
1answer
107 views
Conservation of Angular momentum in the dipole selection rules
If the total angular momentum J of an atom is not changing during a dipole transition, where does the angular momentum for the photon come from?
2
votes
1answer
189 views
Is angular momentum always conserved in the absence of an external torque?
Consider either the angular momentum of the earth around the sun or equivalently swinging a ball horizontally on a string.
I know that with respect to the point of rotation of the swinging ball, ...
2
votes
2answers
445 views
What causes precession or nutation in a spinning object?
What causes precession in a spinning object?
What causes nutation in a spinning object?
What causes a top, gyroscope, and the earth to wobble?
Just because it's a simple question, I'm not ...
2
votes
2answers
287 views
Question on Total, Orbital and Spin Angular momentum
I am reading about the total, orbital and spin angular momentum, and I am not clear as to what these generators actually do after exponentiating.
Could you give me a physical picture of what happens ...
2
votes
1answer
209 views
Why are Euler's equations of motion coupled? Physical explanation
I have a problem with one of my study questions for an oral exam:
Euler’s equation of motion around the $z$ axis in two dimensions is $I_z\dot{\omega}_z = M_z$, whereas it in three dimensions is ...
2
votes
1answer
371 views
Conservation of angular momentum across different reference frames?
I saw the following problem from the USAPhO:
A uniform pool ball of radius $r$ begins at rest on a pool table. The ball is given a horizontal impulse $J$ of fixed magnitude at a distance $\beta r$ ...
2
votes
1answer
396 views
What does it really mean that particle has a spin of up/down? And how is spin actually meassured?
I been reading some physics articles (related to the recent discovery of the particle that could be a Higgs boson) posted online and it was talking about electron spin and how it can only have values ...
2
votes
3answers
197 views
Should any theory of physics respect the principle of conservation of angular momentum or linear momentum?
Is it possible that a theory that can describe the universe at the planck scale can violate things that we now consider fundamental in nature?For example can it violate rotational and translational ...
2
votes
1answer
982 views
Angular momentum operator and expectation values
I was reading some notes and it says that $\langle L_z^2\rangle=\langle L^2\rangle$ IFF the system is radially symmetric. I can see that in order that the LHS of the statement implies that $\langle ...
2
votes
1answer
478 views
General procedure for Clebsch-Gordan expansions
I'm wondering if the Clebsch-Gordan series generalize to any orthonormal set of basis functions? If so, how would one go about deriving an expression for an arbitrary set of basis functions (perhaps ...
2
votes
2answers
257 views
Why does optical pumping of Rubidium require presence of magnetic field?
The optical pumping experiment of Rubidium requires the presence of magnetic field, but I don't understand why.
The basic principle of pumping is that the selection rule forbids transition from ...
2
votes
1answer
534 views
Does ABS cause a force that resists turning a car into a corner?
ABS systems work by allowing a tire to continue to rotate rather than "locking-up" (stop turning) due to loss of traction with the road surface. A rotating tire can influence the direction of the ...
2
votes
2answers
378 views
Homework about spinning top
I have a top of unknown mass that has a moment of inertia $I=4\times 10^{-7} kg \cdot m^2$. A string is wrapped around the top and pulls it so that its tension is kept at 5.57 N for a distance of .8 ...
2
votes
2answers
145 views
A universe of angular momentum?
I read this on Wikipedia:
[...] That most tangible way of expressing the essence of quantum mechanics
is that we live in a universe of quantized angular momentum and the
Planck constant is the ...
2
votes
1answer
188 views
How can a satellite's speed decrease without its orbital angular momentum changing?
I have no idea what the answer is. I'm supposed to answer it within 3-4 sentences.
2
votes
2answers
218 views
Why for a spin half particle, possible outcomes of measuring spin projection along any direction are the same?
If one measures the projection of spin of a spin half particle along the x axis one will always get plus or minus half $\hbar$
Measuring it along the y axis one will always get plus or minus half ...
2
votes
1answer
228 views
How does weight/mass affect angular momentum?
How does weight/mass affect angular momentum?
For my 8th gr science fair project I have to do an experiment on angular momentum. My problem is that we have not been taught any of that in physics yet, ...
2
votes
1answer
318 views
What is the spin rotation operator for spin > 1/2?
For spin $\frac{1}{2}$, the spin rotation operator $R_\alpha(\textbf{n})=\exp(-i\frac{\alpha}{2}\vec{\sigma}\cdot\textbf{n})$ has a simple form:
...
2
votes
1answer
206 views
what happens when I roll a gyroscope along its axis of spin
Say:
I have a gyroscope that is spinning in the xy plane along the z axis.
I then roll its spinning axis by some angle theta
Now I know the gyroscope will resist my attempting to change its axis ...
2
votes
1answer
113 views
Normalization of a spin-like quantity in matrix mechanics
Suppose that there is a quantity in Heisenberg picture as the following:
$A=u_1\Sigma_1 + u_2\Sigma_2 +u_3\Sigma_3$
I am not sure why $u_1,u_2,u_3$ is normalized to be ${u_1}^2 + {u_2}^2 + {u_3}^2 ...
2
votes
1answer
96 views
Angular momentum of a rotating black hole
Is there an upper limit to the angular momentum of a rotating (Kerr) black hole?
2
votes
2answers
150 views
Multiplicity of eigenvalues of angular momentum
Reading Dirac's Principles of Quantum Mechanics, I encounter in § 36 (Properties of angular momentum) this fragment:
This is for a dynamical system with two angular momenta $\mathbf{m}_1$ and ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
What's the right way to calculate the principal moment of inertia?
I am writing a program that incorporates calculating the principal moment of inertia for a protein residue based on its component atom XYZ coordinates. I am exceedingly confused about which formulas ...
2
votes
1answer
226 views
Double gyroscope: Can a spinning pencil tumble on only one axis?
Picture an object such as item 7 on this page .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_moment_of_inertia_tensors
Call that the x axis and z is in to the distance. See diagram below.
We are in deep ...
2
votes
2answers
482 views
Conservation of angular momentum in helicopter
I have a small RC-controlled toy helicopter with removable tail rotor.
Suppose I remove the tail rotor, hold the tail with my hand, start the rotor until it moves with constant angular velocity and ...
2
votes
1answer
203 views
How could $\textbf{S}^2$ not be a multiple of the identity?
I'm self-studying quantum mechanics with Sakurai's book (Modern Quantum Mechanics, 2nd edition) and came across the following in reference to the operator $\textbf{S}^2$:
As will be shown in ...
2
votes
1answer
548 views
Counter Rotating Bicycle wheels on same axis-> Will they still cause me to spin on a stool?
So people are familiar with the idea of holding a spinning bicycle wheel while on a stool (whose seat can spin). You then tilt the spinning wheel and lo and behold you start to spin on the stool.
Ok ...
2
votes
1answer
519 views
Mech stability through gyroscope
I recently read up about gyroscopes, angular momentum and mechs (the big Cockpit controlled robots) and was wondering if it would be possible to get a stable walking mech (only as example, not meant ...
2
votes
1answer
448 views
acceleration of rings in aerotrim (human gyroscope)
I'm working on a graphic simulation (just for fun, for an open-source screensaver) of an Aerotrim - a "human gyroscope", one of those exercise/training machines with a human in the middle, perched on ...
2
votes
0answers
92 views
Elastic collision of rotating bodies
How would you explain in detail elastic collision of two rotating bodies to someone with basic understanding of classical mechanics?
I'm writing simple physics engine, but now only simulating ...
2
votes
0answers
142 views
How is parity relevant to determining angular momentum?
Question:
Particle A, whose spin $\mathbf{J}$ is less than 2, decays into two identical spin-1/2 particles of type B.
What are the allowed values of the orbital angular momentum $\mathbf{L}$, ...
2
votes
0answers
123 views
Angular momentum confusion
Could somebody please explain what is going on here?
We have a system of two indistinguishable spin-1 bosons. We shall adopt the center of mass frame.
Let
$S$ = total spin
$L$ = relative orbital ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Single plane Ring system [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why are our planets in the solar system all on the same disc/plane/layer?
I've noticed this in many pictures, Planets are shown with a single ring around them (in some ...
2
votes
1answer
192 views
Angular momentum components as independent integrals of motion
I was told that in order to solve the Kepler problem (6 degrees of freedom in total) you have to proceed, step by step, to reduce those degrees of freedom using the integrals of motion. You do so ...
2
votes
1answer
137 views
Will a precessing spinning whell fall down if there is no friction at all?
If there where no friction at all, would a spinning wheel held up by one end of the axis spin precess forever without falling down?
I just asked another question about the same problem:
Direction ...
2
votes
0answers
147 views
Why do control moment gyroscopes exhibit “torque amplification”?
There are a number of articles that describe the benefits of using control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) over reaction wheels in inertial navigation applications. One of the primary benefits of using a CMG ...
1
vote
2answers
132 views
What does it mean if a body has kinetic energy?
What does it mean if a body has kinetic energy?
Does it mean that the momentum vectors of each particle of that body has the same direction?
What about angular momentum?