Difference between Angular Momentum and Linear Momentum (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

**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,

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,

Difference between Angular Momentum and Linear Momentum

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

Characteristics Angular Momentum Linear Momentum
Definition Angular momentum is a measure of an object's rotational motion around a fixed point or axis. Linear momentum is a measure of an object's motion in a straight line.
Movement The angular momentum is rotational movement. The linear momentum is linear movement.
Depends on It depends on inertia and angular velocity. It depends on mass of object and linear velocity.
Denoted by It is denoted by L. It is denoted by p.
Formula The formula for the angular momentum is given by: **L = I ×? The formula for the linear momentum is given by: **p = mv
Unit The unit of angular momentum is kgm2/s. The unit of linear momentum is kgm/ s.
Direction Its direction is perpendicular to the plane of rotation. Its direction is the same as the direction of the object's velocity.
Conservation According to the law of conservation of angular momentum, the total angular momentum is conserved if there are no external torques acting on the system. According to the law of conservation of linear momentum, the total linear momentum of a system remains constant if no external forces act on the system.

**Read More,