alleryStart learning →How is the direction of angular velocity and angular momentum found for a spinning disk?
AIt lies in the plane of the spinning disk
BIt points along the velocity of the rim
CIt follows the right thumb when fingers curl
DIt points outward along the disk radius
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. It follows the right thumb when fingers curl
1. Both angular velocity and angular momentum are vectors, so each needs a direction.
2. The right-hand rule assigns that direction: curl the fingers of the right hand along the rotation.
3. The extended thumb then points along the vector, perpendicular to the plane of rotation.
4. Since L = I omega with I a positive scalar, L points the same way as omega, along the axis.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10 "Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum", section 10.7 Gyroscopic Effects: Vector Aspects of Angular Momentum_
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