Question

Pinocchio rides a horse on a merry-go-round turning counterclockwise as viewed from above, with his long nose always pointing forwards, in the direction of his velocity. Is Pinocchio’s translational angular momentum relative to the center of the merry-go-round zero or nonzero? In nonzero, what is its direction? Is his rational angular momentum zero or nonzero? If nonzero, what is its direction?

Short answer

The angular momentum from the right-hand rule points upwards (or) towards the sky.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Angular Momentum.

Angular momentum is a property that describes an object's or a system of items' rotational inertia in motion around an axis that may or may not pass through the object or system

Find the direction of Angular momentum.

The rider's translational angular momentum is nonzero in relation to the merry go round's center of mass.

As the horse on the merry go round turns counter-clockwise, the direction of the animal's motion, as seen from above, is counter-clockwise.

The direction of the position vector from the merry go round's center is towards the horse, and it is heading away from the merry go round's center.

The translational angular momentum of the rider relative to the center of the merry-go-round is equal to the cross product of the position vector and the linear momentum, according to the definition of angular momentum. The angular momentum from the right-hand rule points upwards (or) towards the sky.

The rider's rational angular momentum in relation to the merry go round's center of mass is nonzero.

As the horse on the merry go round turns counterclockwise, the direction of the animal's motion, as seen from above, is counterclockwise.

The direction of the position vector from the merry go round's center is towards the horse, and it is heading away from the merry go round's center.

The cross product of the position vector and the linear momentum is equal to the rational angular momentum of the rider relative to the center of the merry go round, according to the definition of angular momentum. The angular momentum from the right-hand rule is pointing upwards (or) towards the sky.