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Let me preface by saying that I get the gist of the conservation of angular momentum, at least qualitatively. To better illustrate my question, I will consider the case of a planet orbiting a star.

If we assume that the equation for angular momentum is the following:

$$ L = m * r * v$$

Where:

$m$ = is the combined mass of the star-planet system

$r$ = the orbital distance (semi-major axis) of the planet

$v$ = the orbital velocity of the planet

Now, since the mass is more or less constant, we will ignore that. Also, per Kepler's 2nd law, the planet must orbit faster as it is closer to its host star and vice versa. Here is what I don't understand:

If we decrease $r$ by a certain amount, doesn't this mean that $v$ must also increase by the same amount for the total angular momentum to be conserved? If this is true, then why doesn't it appear to be the case in practice? That is, it's quite obvious to me that a planet's orbital velocity doesn't increase by the same amount by which its orbital distance has decreased.

I hope this is clear. I'm trying to understand the relationship between r and v in terms of how they compensate for each other in order to conserve L. Intuitively, one must increase by the same amount the other was decreased, yet somehow this doesn't strike me as a realistic scenario. What am I misunderstanding?

EDIT: Thanks to Bill N's comment below, I believe my misunderstanding stems from the fact that I had assumed the increases and decreases are additive, where in fact they are multiplicative. Please feel to free to add more relevant comments, otherwise consider this question answered.

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  • $\begingroup$ You make a statement "That is, it's quite obvious to me that a planet's orbital velocity doesn't increase by the same amount by which its orbital distance has decreased." But you give no evidence. The experimental evidence from every satellite and every planet and every comet we've ever measured that what is obvious to you is false. And remember, that the increases and decreases are not additive, they are multiplicative ratios. If you want to cite some evidence, do it. You haven't stated any realistic "misunderstanding." You've only stated a disbelief. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 22, 2015 at 3:32
  • $\begingroup$ There's also a factor of $\sin\theta$ that is left out of your formula for $L$. $\theta$ is the angle between the radial vector and the velocity vector. $L=mvr\sin\theta$. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 22, 2015 at 3:34
  • $\begingroup$ Can you clarify what you mean by 'multiplicative ratios'? I think this is what I got wrong. Also, I was not actually making a claim. Apologies if it sounded that way. I genuinely don't understand the situation. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 22, 2015 at 3:35
  • $\begingroup$ Never mind. I understand now. Thank you very much! $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 22, 2015 at 3:55

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The angular momentum of planetary and satellite orbital motion remains constant to first order because the gravitational force exerts no torque on the system. That means that at each point of the satellite's orbit, measured relative to the center of force (the star, or possibly a planet in the case of a moon or man-made satellite) is $L=\mu v r \sin\theta$, where $\mu$ is the reduced mass of the system. Because the torque is zero and $\mu$ is constant, $vr\sin\theta$ must be constant. The angle $\theta$ is the angle between the position vector, $\vec{r}$ from the force center to the satellite and the velocity vector, $\vec{v}$.

Let's compare two orbital points, the periapsis (closest approach, $\vec{r}_p$) and apapsis (most distant point, $\vec{r}_a$), of the elliptical orbit. The center of force will be at a focus of the ellipse. At both of these points, $\theta=90^o$, so $$v_pr_p = v_ar_a.$$ Because $r_a>r_p$ we quickly see that $$v_p=v_a\frac{r_a}{r_p} > v_a$$ or, in words, the speed at the periapsis is faster than the speed at the apapsis by a ratio of $\frac{r_a}{r_p}$. At points in between, $\sin\theta$ is less than 1, but never goes to zero. The slowest speed is at the apapsis, and the speed increases continually and predictably, but non-linearly until the periapsis. The actual acceleration magnitude depends on the eccentricity of the ellipse as well as the semi-major axis. More details can be found in any collegiate intermediate mechanics book.

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  • $\begingroup$ Not enough points on Physics SE to upvote, but thanks again for the details! That was where I initially went wrong. I had assumed the increases/decreases were additive (which is sort of what it sounds like when described qualitatively). $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 22, 2015 at 4:08
  • $\begingroup$ @BillN Hi, Bill. Could you clarify why the angular momentum remains constant to first order? Assuming the planets are of ideal shape, is the constancy of angular momentum not exact? $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 25, 2015 at 12:40
  • $\begingroup$ There are other planets which exert torques on each other. The torque effects are very small on a planet (large mass), but we use them to boost small mass satellites to different orbits. That's how we got the Voyagers and New Horizons out to Pluto and beyond. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 25, 2015 at 18:22

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