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  1. AP Physics 1 Revised
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What is the effect of applying an external torque to a rotating object?

It changes the object's angular momentum.

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What is the effect of applying an external torque to a rotating object?

It changes the object's angular momentum.

What happens when a figure skater pulls their arms in?

Their moment of inertia decreases, and their angular speed increases, conserving angular momentum.

What is the effect of no net external torque on a system?

The total angular momentum of the system is conserved.

What happens to angular speed if the moment of inertia decreases in a closed system?

The angular speed increases to conserve total angular momentum.

What is the effect of angular impulse on an object?

It changes the object's angular momentum.

Define conservation of angular momentum.

The total angular momentum of a closed system remains constant unless acted upon by an external torque.

What is angular impulse?

Angular impulse is the product of the net torque and the time interval over which it acts. Units are kg⋅m2/s\text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{s}kg⋅m2/s.

Define moment of inertia.

A measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotation rate. It depends on the mass distribution of the object and the axis of rotation.

What is a closed system in the context of angular momentum?

A system where no external torques act upon it, allowing angular momentum to be conserved.

Define angular momentum.

The rotational equivalent of linear momentum. For a point particle, it is given by L⃗=r⃗×p⃗\vec{L} = \vec{r} \times \vec{p}L=r×p​, where r⃗\vec{r}r is the position vector and p⃗\vec{p}p​ is the linear momentum.

What is the effect of applying an external torque to a rotating object?

The object's angular momentum changes. The change is equal to the angular impulse imparted by the torque.

What happens if a spinning object's mass distribution changes, moving mass closer to the axis of rotation?

The moment of inertia decreases, and the angular speed increases to conserve angular momentum.

What is the effect of zero net external torque on a system?

The total angular momentum of the system remains constant.

What happens when a rotating object collides with a stationary object and they stick together?

The final angular velocity of the combined system will be lower than the initial angular velocity of the rotating object, due to the increased moment of inertia. Total angular momentum is conserved.

What is the effect of a figure skater pulling their arms inward during a spin?

Their moment of inertia decreases, causing their angular speed to increase, conserving angular momentum.

What happens when a spacecraft fires thrusters?

It creates an angular impulse, changing its rotational motion.