An experiment for studying the principle of conservation of angular momentum is described. A steel ball, with linear momentum p⁠, moving at a distance r from a fixed shaft, is involved in a completely inelastic collision with a rigid body which is free to rotate about that shaft. The angular momentum r×p of the ball before the collision is compared with that of the rotating system afterwards; agreement within 2% is obtained. The experiment is designed for the introductory course for students majoring in the physical sciences.

Topics
Atomic and molecular collisions, Education, Public policy and governance, Laboratories
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© 1963 American Association of Physics Teachers.
1963
American Association of Physics Teachers
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