Angular momentum is defined from linear momentum via L=r*p, and is conserved in a closed system. Since energy is the time part of the linear four-momentum, is there a quantity defined from energy that's also conserved?

Ebone6v

Ebone6v

Open question

2022-08-14

Angular momentum is defined from linear momentum via L = r × p , and is conserved in a closed system. Since energy is the time part of the linear four-momentum, is there a quantity defined from energy that's also conserved?

Answer & Explanation

Avah Leonard

Avah Leonard

Beginner2022-08-15Added 21 answers

In special relativity momentum is part of a 4-vector with energy as the time component as you correctly said. Angular momentum is not part of a 4-vector. The cross product you used in the question does not give a vector when generalised from 3 to 4 dimensions. Instead it gives an antisymmetric matrix. So angular momnetum is part of an antisymmetric rank-2 tensor (a matrix) which has six independent components. The angular momentum vector from 3d space forms three of those components and the other three components form another 3d vector, so this works differently from a 4-vector.
In 3d an antisymmetric tensor is a hodge dual to a vector which is why we think of angular momentum as a vector like momentum, but in 4d spacetime an antisymmetric tensor is hodge dual to another antisymmetric tensor and cannot be thought of as equivalent to a 4-vector. This is obvious because the number of components is different.
To understand what the other 3-components of this antisymmetric matrix are you have to look at the relationship between conserved quantities and symmetry as understood via Noether's theorem. Energy and momentum correspond to symmetry under translations in time and space, but angular momentum is symmetry under rotations. In special relativity rotations and combined with Lorentz boosts to form the six parameter group of Lorentz transformations. So your question is equivalent to asking what conserved quantity corresponds to Lorentz boosts.
Taliyah Reyes

Taliyah Reyes

Beginner2022-08-16Added 6 answers

Yes. There is not just one "energy" associated with an object, there is translational energy and rotational energy. Consider an object whose center of mass is stationary, but it's rotating. It's not moving through space, but it clearly has kinetic energy. This is rotational kinetic energy, which is related to the angular velocity in much the same way as linear velocity:
K = 1 2 I ω 2
In an elastic collision, rotational kinetic energy is conserved separately from translational kinetic energy.
Likewise there is also rotational potential energy (consider a spinning top or a wind up toy, for example).

Do you have a similar question?

Recalculate according to your conditions!

New Questions in Relativity

Ask your question.
Get an expert answer.

Let our experts help you. Answer in as fast as 15 minutes.

Didn't find what you were looking for?