A point mass with mass $m$, distance $r$ from circle and constant tangential velocity and constant angular velocity is swung around a circle. ($p$ is linear momentum)
Angular momentum is radius x linear momentum. It is conserved.
If $r$ is increased, linear momentum decreases. However, shouldn't linear momentum be conserved as well? Where does linear momentum go?
Best Answer
"Linear momentum is conserved when there is no force acting on the system". So far so good. As the mass is moving in a circle, there is a force acting on it and linear momentum is not conserved. If the force vanishes, the bass will move on a straight line and both linear and angular momentum are conserved.