Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The post-collision angular speed refers to the rotational speed of an object after a collision or interaction with another object. It describes how fast an object is rotating after the collision has occurred.
Angular momentum is a property of rotating objects that depends on both their mass and their rotational speed.
Conservation of angular momentum: This principle states that in the absence of external torques, the total angular momentum of a system remains constant before and after a collision.
Rotational kinetic energy: Rotational kinetic energy refers to the energy possessed by an object due to its rotation. It depends on both its moment of inertia and its angular velocity.