Consider a system like the example problem where a batting machine swings a bat but instead of a baseball, the bat hits a lump of clay, which sticks to the end of the bat. How does the angular momentum of the clay and bat after the collision compare to the angular momentum of the clay and bat before the collision, and why?

It increases, the mass of the rotating object increases

It decreases, the velocity of the rotating object decreases

It decreases, momentum is lost in the collision

It stays the same, there is no external torque on the system

I said that it decreases because momentum is lost...that was wrong...

1 answer

Assuming that the collision happened so fast that the machine swinging the bat put no work in during the collision the angular momentum (of the entire bat/clay system)does not change. The moment of inertia is a little higher due to the mass of the clay so the angular velocity slows a bit, but the Angular momentum is the same before and after. Remember that not only the bat but the clay as well had angular momentum before the collision.
Similar Questions
    1. answers icon 1 answer
    1. answers icon 1 answer
  1. 9 of 109 of 10 ItemsQuestion What is the position a batter takes at the plate called? (1 point) Responses Batting carriage
    1. answers icon 1 answer
  2. QuestionWhat is the position a batter takes at the plate called? (1 point) Responses Batting carriage Batting carriage Batting
    1. answers icon 1 answer
more similar questions