Angular momentum is

Options

A. Polar vector
B. Axial vector
C. Scalar vector
D. Both vector & scalar

Answer

To solve the question regarding the nature of angular momentum, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand Angular Momentum
Angular momentum (\(L\)) is a physical quantity that represents the rotational inertia and rotational motion of an object. It is defined mathematically as the cross product of the position vector (\(r\)) and the linear momentum vector (\(p\)) of the object.

### Step 2: Define the Cross Product
The angular momentum can be expressed as:
\[ L = r \times p \]
where:
- \(L\) is the angular momentum,
- \(r\) is the position vector from the axis of rotation to the point of interest,
- \(p\) is the linear momentum, which is given by \(p = mv\) (mass times velocity).

### Step 3: Direction of Angular Momentum
To determine the direction of the angular momentum vector, we can use the right-hand rule:
- Point your right thumb in the direction of the position vector (\(r\)).
- Curl your fingers in the direction of the linear momentum vector (\(p\)).
- Your thumb will then point in the direction of the angular momentum vector (\(L\)).

### Step 4: Classify Angular Momentum
From the above understanding, we can classify angular momentum:
- Since it has a specific direction (along the axis of rotation) and magnitude, angular momentum is a vector quantity.
- Specifically, it is classified as an **axial vector** because it represents a quantity that has both magnitude and direction, and it is associated with rotational motion about an axis.

### Conclusion
Based on the analysis, we can conclude that angular momentum is an **axial vector**.