Angular Momentum is a vector quantity that measures the amount of rotation of a body relative to a point: \( \vec{L} = \vec{r} \times \vec{p} \)
\( \vec{L} \): Angular momentum, \( \vec{r} \): Position vector, which goes from the reference point (origin) to the moving body, \( \vec{p} \): Momentum of the body.
The law of conservation of angular momentum is a fundamental principle of classical and quantum mechanics. It states that in an isolated system (where no net external force exerts a moment), the total angular momentum is conserved.
In a scenario of a collapsing rotating proto-solar cloud, we expect the angular momentum to be conserved. However, simulations show that in the absence of angular momentum transfer mechanisms, the Sun should rotate much faster in a few hours instead of 27 days.
The angular momentum of the Solar System is largely concentrated in the planets, particularly the gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn. This fact is counterintuitive: the Sun contains more than 99.8% of the mass of the Solar System, but only about 2% of its total angular momentum. In contrast, Jupiter and Saturn alone account for more than 90% of this angular momentum.
The orbital angular momentum \( L \) of a body of mass \( m \), moving in a circular orbit of radius \( r \) with a velocity \( v \), is given by: \( L = m \cdot r \cdot v \)
For a Keplerian orbit, \( L \) can be expressed in terms of the mass \( M \) of the central star (here the Sun), by: \( L = m \cdot \sqrt{G M r} \) where \( G \) is the gravitational constant.
The angular momentum paradox of the Solar System is an astrophysical enigma related to the unexpected distribution of angular momentum between the Sun and the planets.
Body | Angular Momentum (kg·m²/s) | % of Total | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Jupiter | 1.9 × 1043 | 60% | Dominant planet in orbital momentum |
Saturn | 7.8 × 1042 | 25% | Second major contributor |
Other Planets | 3.8 × 1042 | 12% | Includes Uranus, Neptune, etc. |
Sun (rotation) | 1.9 × 1041 | ~2% | Low differential rotation |
Asteroids and Comets | ~1039 | <0.01% | Negligible contribution |
Source: NASA Planetary Fact Sheet, Ward & Canup 2002
The main reason explaining the angular momentum paradox of the Solar System is magnetic braking, associated with the coupling between the magnetic field of the young Sun and the protoplanetary disk.
The Sun lost most of its rotational angular momentum to the disk, and then to the planets. The planets, forming at great distances, inherited most of the total angular momentum.
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