Conservation of angular momentum is a fundamental law of physics that states that the total angular momentum of a system remains constant, or conserved, unless acted upon by an external torque.
Angular momentum is conserved through the principle of action and reaction, also known as Newton's third law of motion. This means that for every torque applied to a system, an equal and opposite torque is produced, resulting in no change in the total angular momentum.
Some examples of conservation of angular momentum include a spinning top maintaining its rotation as long as there is no external force acting on it, a figure skater spinning faster as they pull their arms in, and a planet maintaining its orbit around the sun due to the balance of gravitational and tangential forces.
Conservation of angular momentum is important because it is a fundamental law of physics that helps us understand and predict the behavior of rotating systems. It is also essential for many practical applications, such as spacecraft navigation, gyroscopes, and rotational motion in machinery.
No, angular momentum cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be transferred from one object to another through external torques, but the total amount of angular momentum in a closed system remains constant.