What conservation law explains why the skater spins faster when her arms are pulled in?
A) conservation of charge
B) conservation of energy
C) conservation of angular momentum

Question

What conservation law explains why the skater spins faster when her arms are pulled in? 
A) conservation of charge 
B) conservation of energy 
C) conservation of angular momentum

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Conservation of angular momentum states that the total angular momentum of a system remains constant when no external torque is acting on the system. When the skater pulls her arms in, her moment of inertia decreases, which causes her angular velocity to increase in order to maintain the conservation of angular momentum. This explains why the skater spins faster when her arms are pulled in.

What Conservation Law Explains Why the Skater Spins Faster When