Angular momentum is defined as the inertia of rotation motion while Linear Momentum is defined as the inertia of translation motion. The main difference between them is the type of motion related to each momentum.

In this article, we will explore the difference between angular momentum and linear momentum in detail along with the basics of angular momentum and linear momentum.

What is Angular Momentum?

Angular momentum is a measure of an object’s rotational motion around a fixed point or axis. It is the momentum which is obtained by the inertia of rotational motion. It is denoted by L. It is given by the product of inertia and angular velocity.

Angular momentum is a vector quantity, i.e. it has both magnitude and direction. Its direction is perpendicular to the plane of rotation.

Angular Momentum Formula

The formula for the angular momentum is given by:

L = I × ????

where,

• I is the inertia
• ???? is the angular velocity

What is Linear Momentum?

Linear momentum is a measure of the motion of an object in a straight line. It is the momentum which is obtained by the inertia of linear motion. It is denoted by P. Linear momentum is given by the product of mass of object and its linear velocity.

Linear momentum is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. The direction of the linear momentum vector is the same as the direction of the object’s velocity.

Linear Momentum Formula

The formula for the linear momentum is given by:

p = m × v

where,

• m is the mass of object
• v is the linear velocity of object

Difference between Angular Momentum and Linear Momentum

The below table represents the difference between angular and linear momentum.