Question

How does mass affect angular momentum?

Answer 1

Angular momentum can be written as:

`L = Iomega`

where `I` is moment of inertia and `omega` is rotational velocity.

If we suppose `I = kmr^2`, where `k` is some coefficient corresponding to the particular shape of the solid and its axis of rotation, `r` is the distance to the axis of rotation, and `m` is the mass, then:

`L = kmr^2omega`

With other variables held constant, as mass increases, angular momentum increases. Thus, mass is directly proportional to angular momentum.