---
title: "A conical pendulum consists of a small bob of mass \\(m\\) attached to a light string of length \\(L\\). The bob moves at a constant speed \\(v\\) in a horizontal circle of radius \\(R\\). Point \\(S\\) is the fixed suspension point of the string, and point \\(C\\) is the center of the circular orbit located a vertical distance \\(h\\) directly below \\(S\\).  Which of the following correctly describes the angular momentum vector of the bob evaluated about point \\(S\\) (\\(\\vec{L}_S\\)) and evaluated about point \\(C\\) (\\(\\vec{L}_C\\)) as the bob orbits?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120918/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T04:44:18+00:00"
---

# A conical pendulum consists of a small bob of mass \(m\) attached to a light string of length \(L\). The bob moves at a constant speed \(v\) in a horizontal circle of radius \(R\). Point \(S\) is the fixed suspension point of the string, and point \(C\) is the center of the circular orbit located a vertical distance \(h\) directly below \(S\).

Which of the following correctly describes the angular momentum vector of the bob evaluated about point \(S\) (\(\vec{L}_S\)) and evaluated about point \(C\) (\(\vec{L}_C\)) as the bob orbits?

A conical pendulum consists of a small bob of mass \(m\) attached to a light string of length \(L\). The bob moves at a constant speed \(v\) in a horizontal circle of radius \(R\). Point \(S\) is the fixed suspension point of the string, and point \(C\) is the center of the circular orbit located a vertical distance \(h\) directly below \(S\).

Which of the following correctly describes the angular momentum vector of the bob evaluated about point \(S\) (\(\vec{L}_S\)) and evaluated about point \(C\) (\(\vec{L}_C\)) as the bob orbits?

![A schematic diagram showing a conical pendulum. At the top is a horizontal ceiling line with a fixed suspension point labeled S. A straight solid line representing a string of length L extends downward and to the right at an angle to a shaded circular bob of mass m. A vertical dashed line descends from S to the center of a horizontal dashed ellipse representing the circular path. The center of the circle is labeled C. The vertical distance between S and C is labeled h. A horizontal dashed line connects C to the bob, labeled with radius R. A curved counterclockwise arrow along the ellipse at the bob indicates velocity v. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787460258-sy8doQ.jpg)

- **A.** \(\vec{L}_S\): Constant in magnitude and direction | \(\vec{L}_C\): Constant in magnitude and direction
- **B.** \(\vec{L}_S\): Constant in magnitude and direction | \(\vec{L}_C\): Constant in magnitude, but continuously changes direction
- **C.** \(\vec{L}_S\): Constant in magnitude, but continuously changes direction | \(\vec{L}_C\): Constant in magnitude and direction
- **D.** \(\vec{L}_S\): Constant in magnitude, but continuously changes direction | \(\vec{L}_C\): Constant in magnitude, but continuously changes direction

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120918/*