Question

A small mass m is attached to a massless string whose other end is fixed at P as shown in the figure. The mass is undergoing circular motion in the x-y plane with centre at O and constant angular speed $\omega$. If the angular momentum of the system, calculated about O and P are denoted by $L_o$ and $L_p$ respectively, then

• A. $L_0$ and $L_p$ do not vary with time
• B. $L_0$ varies with time while $L_p$ remains constan
• C. $L_0$ remains constant while $L_P$ varies with time
• D. $L_0$ and $L_P$ both vary with time

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Angular momentum of a particle about a point is given by $L=r\times P=m(r\times v)$
For $L_0$
$|L|=(mvrsin\theta )=m(R\omega )(R)sin90^{\circ }$ = constant
Direction of $L_0$ is always upwards. Therefore, complete $L_0$ is constant, both in magnitude as well as direction.
For $L_p$
$|L_P|=(mvrsin\theta )=(m)(R\omega )(l)sin90^{\circ }=(mRl\omega ))$
Magnitude o f $L_P$ will remain constant but direction o f $L_P$ keeps on changing.