Question #90207

Why do axial vectors dont produce motion eg when a bullock cart moves why the wheel does not come out due to axial vector pointing outwards according to right hand rule

Expert's answer

Indeed, when the wheels move forward and then have momentum p\textbf{p}, they achieve the angular momentum:


L=r×p.\textbf{L}=\textbf{r}\times\textbf{p}.

But what does the angular momentum represent? Is it a force? Let's see.

According to the expression, it's measured in units of distance times units of momentum:



kgm2/s,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m}^2/\text{s},

it is not Newton and thus it's not a force. The angular momentum just measures how much inertia a rotating body has. What can make the wheels come out, however, is a force. Forces can produce motion as you correctly mentioned, but what is produced in the described situation is not a force.


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