|
|
 Originally Posted by Poopadoop
Uh, yeah.
Now how about in English?
I'll give it a bash.
Take the earth-moon system, and simplify it to say that the moon is moving perpendicular to earth, while earth's gravity acts to draw the moon towards earth. If the moon was not moving perpendicular to earth, it would fall directly towards earth. But because it has linear velocity, then it moves in a circle around earth (I emphasise, very simplified).
That's conservation of energy.
Conservation of angular momentum is basically the same, only applied to a rotating frame of reference. If you imagine a spinning top, if you give it a push to try and make it fall over, it won't, because the part you made fall towards the direction of gravity has moved and is now going against gravity, before reacing its apex and going back down with gravity, etc.
Conservation of angular momentum is basically conservation of energy, just more complex because of the nature of motion.
|
Reply With Quote