Angular momentum is position cross linear momentum

The pseudovector of angular momentum of a particle is the cross product of its position vector and linear momentum. Unlike linear momentum, angular momentum depends on where the origin of the coordinate system is chosen since it depends on the position vector of the particle defined relative to that origin.

Notation:

  1. \(\vec a \times \vec b\) (cross(a, b)) denotes a cross product between vectors \(\vec a\) and \(\vec b\).

Links:

  1. Wikipedia, see second paragraph.

angular_momentum_definition(position_vector_, linear_momentum_)[source]

Pseudovector of angular momentum is defined as the cross product between the position vector and the momentum vector.

Law:

L = cross(r, p)

Latex:
\[\vec L = \vec r \times \vec p\]
Parameters:

  • position_vector_ –

    position vector of the particle relative to a fixed point.

    Symbol: r

    Latex: \(\vec r\)

    Dimension: length

  • linear_momentum_ –

    vector of linear momentum of the particle.

    Symbol: p

    Latex: \(\vec p\)

    Dimension: momentum

Returns:

pseudovector of angular momentum of the particle.

Symbol: L

Latex: \(\vec L\)

Dimension: length * momentum