Question

Does the addition of mass to the center of mass of an already rotating object add angular momentum?

1) Yes
2) No
3) It depends on the direction of rotation
4) It depends on the mass added

Answer 1

Adding mass to the center of mass of a rotating object does not add angular momentum, as angular momentum of a system is conserved in the absence of external torques. the correct answer is 2) No

Step-by-step explanation:

The addition of mass to the center of mass of an already rotating object does not add angular momentum to the object; the object's angular momentum remains the same, assuming no external torque is applied.

This is due to the law of conservation of angular momentum, which states that in the absence of external torques, the total angular momentum of a system remains constant.

To change the angular momentum, there must be an external torque or a change in the rotational inertia that involves moving the mass with respect to the axis of rotation.

If the mass is added at the center of mass without changing its distribution, the moment of inertia remains unchanged, so the angular velocity and angular momentum retain their existing values.