Angular Momentum Formula Questions:

1) A rubber ball attached to a string is being swung in a circle. The string is

0.500 m long, and the ball has a linear momentum of 4.00 kgm/s, which is
always at a tangent to the circle the ball is spinning in. What is the magnitude
of the ball's angular momentum?
Answer:
The length vector is in the direction of the string, extending from the center of
rotation to the ball. The angle between the length vector and the linear
momentum direction is 90, and sin90 = 1. The angular momentum is:

The magnitude of the angular momentum was asked for, and so the direction of
the angular momentum is not required:

L = rp sin

L = rp(1)
L = (0.500 m)(4.00 kgm/s)
L = 2.00 kgm2/s
The magnitude of the angular momentum is 2.00 kgm2/s.
2) A lump of clay is sitting on the edge of a flat potter's wheel. The wheel has a
radius of 0.200 m, and the clay has a linear momentum of 3.60 kgm/s, which
is always at a tangent to the circular edge of the potter's wheel. What is the
magnitude of the angular momentum of the clay?
Answer:
The angle between the length vector and the linear momentum direction is 90,
and sin90 = 1. The angular momentum is:

The magnitude of the angular momentum was asked for, and so the direction of
the angular momentum is not required:

L = rp sin

L = rp(1)
L = (0.200 m)(3.60 kgm/s)
L = 0.720 kgm2/s
The magnitude of the angular momentum is 0.720 kgm2/s