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angular momentum

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Copyright

angular momentum The momentum a body has by virtue of its rotation. A body such as a planet has two types of angular momentum: one type results from its motion in orbit around the Sun, and the other from its spin on its own axis. Angular momentum in orbit is given by the body's mass multiplied by its orbital angular velocity and by its distance from the Sun. Angular momentum of spin depends on the mass of the body's individual parts and their distances from its centre (the moment of inertia) multiplied by its angular velocity of spin. As a consequence of conservation of angular momentum, a body spins faster as it gets smaller, such as when a gas cloud shrinks to become a star.

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angular momentum

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | Copyright

angular momentum The momentum of a body rotating in a plane around a point. It is formally the product of the mass of the body, the radius of the orbit, and the square of the angular velocity (mrω²). Because of its rotation about its axis, the Earth has rotational angular momentum, and orbital angular momentum on account of its annual revolution around the Sun. The angular momentum of the Earth-Moon system (3.45 × 10³⁴ rad/kg/m²/s) is the sum of the rotational angular momentum of the Earth and the Moon's orbital angular momentum, and is high compared to that of the other terrestrial planets.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "angular momentum." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "angular momentum." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-angularmomentum.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "angular momentum." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-angularmomentum.html

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angular momentum

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

angular momentum see momentum .

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"angular momentum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-angularm.html

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