PHYSICS 489 - Week 20

PHYS 20.1	Torque & Angular Momentum
Reading:	Don't Panic Vol I pp 259-261
Homework:	Ch. 14: Pr 1,2; Ex 1,2
Keywords:	R.H.R., Torque, Lever Arm, Angular Momentum

Learning Objectives:

1. describe a torque in terms of 'force' and 'lever arm' and calculate torques for given forces.
2. calculate the torque on a current carrying loop of wire in a B field.
3. define the angular momentum of a point particle.
4. derive the relationship between torque and angular momentum from Newton's 2nd Law for a point object.

Learning Objectives:

1. verify the relationship between torque and angular momentum for situations where the force and motion are known, eg falling objects, projectile motion.
2. state the general relationship between torque and angular momentum for a system of particles and develop, from this relationship, the law of conservation of angular momentum.
3. recognize when a situation permits the application of conservation of angular momentum and to solve simple problems involving point particles.

Learning Objectives:

1. apply Newtion's 2nd Law for rotations to systems of point objects.
2. apply, when applicable, the law of conservation of angular momentum to systems of point objects.