conservation of angular momentum

noun

, Physics.

1. the principle that the total angular momentum of a system has constant magnitude and direction if the system is subjected to no external force.

Example Sentences

That’s because according to the conservation of angular momentum, it is impossible for an object that is not spinning to suddenly rotate without external influence.

From Scientific American

Thus, conservation of angular momentum is preserved.

From Scientific American

This long-term truncation of day length, seasonal effects on Earth’s rotation and a little extra kick from daily climate effects such as changes in winds combined to make June 29 a record breaker—all thanks to the conservation of angular momentum.

From Scientific American

Because of conservation of angular momentum, a physics principle, any object that is spinning will spin faster if it suddenly shrinks in width.

From Salon

Just as you would not expect an object to start moving on its own without some force acting on it, a body beginning to spin in absence of an initiating torque would seem decidedly supernatural, in apparent violation of the law of conservation of angular momentum.

From Scientific American