Law (or principle) of conservation of angular momentum : The angular momentum of a body is conserved if the resultant external torque on the body is zero.
Explanation : This law (or principle) is used by a figure skater or a ballerina to increase their speed of rotation for a spin by reducing the body’s moment of inertia. A diver too uses it during a somersault for the same reason.
(1) Ice dance : Twizzle and spin are elements of the sport of figure skating. In a twizzle a skater turns several revolutions while travelling on the ice. In a dance spin, the skater rotates on the ice skate and centred on a single point on the ice. The torque due to friction between the ice skate and the ice is small. Consequently, the angular momentum of a figure skater remains nearly constant.
For a twizzle of smaller radius, a figure skater draws her limbs close to her body to reduce moment of inertia and increase frequency of rotation. For larger rounds, she stretches out her limbs to increase moment of inertia which reduces the angular and linear speeds.
A figure skater usually starts a dance spin in a crouch, rotating on one skate with the other leg and both arms extended. She rotates relatively slowly because her moment of inertia is large. She then slowly stands up, pulling the extended leg and arms to her body. As she does so, her moment of inertia about the axis of rotation decreases considerably, and thereby her angular velocity substantially increases to conserve angular momentum.
(2) Diving : Take-off from a springboard or diving platform determines the diver’s trajectory and the magnitude of angular momentum. A diver must generate angular momentum at take-off by moving the position of the arms and by a slight hollowing of the back. This allows the diver to change angular speeds for twists and somersaults in flight by controlling her/his moment of inertia. A compact tucked shape of the body lowers the moment of inertia for rotation of smaller radius and increased angular speed. The opening of the body for the vertical entry into water does not stop the rotation, but merely slows it down. The angular momentum remains constant throughout the flight.
