Thread: Astrophysics

Why do all bodies in the universe have spin? What is the angular momentum of the universe? How did spin of bodies originate?

Can you clarify what prompted you to ask these questions? Are they accurate and meaningful questions or assumptions you want validated?

Originally Posted by Rick Quirouette

Why do all bodies in the universe have spin? How did spin of bodies originate?

As most bodies seem to be formed by a cloud of gas and dust falling inwards, that matter would have to be perfectly balanced and symmetrical if it were to fall straight in. So it is all likely to be travelling in some direction and spiral inwards. Again, if everything was perfectly balanced, all that infalling matter could cancel out to leave no net spin. But that is just really, really unlikely. So there will remain some overall motion (spin). Some objects might be spinning really really slowly. There might even be some which are not spinning at all. But I doubt it. After all, at some point they are going to be hit by another body, even if only some number of meteors or comets and that may start them rotating. And then there are tidal forces. And ...

What is the angular momentum of the universe?

I don't know. I don't know if anyone knows, or even if it can be defined or measured. (Although I have vague recollection of seeing something about it ...)

Originally Posted by Strange

I don't know. I don't know if anyone knows, or even if it can be defined or measured. (Although I have vague recollection of seeing something about it ...)

Is the Universe Spinning? : Discovery News
Unconfirmed.

Originally Posted by Strange

I don't know. I don't know if anyone knows, or even if it can be defined or measured. (Although I have vague recollection of seeing something about it ...)

Yeah, we have had a discussion about it before :

http://www.thescienceforum.com/physi...-universe.html

what is happening in the case of an acident of two cars? the possebility that they stop and not doing anything when they hit each over at the front is small. the back of the cars will move sidewards. if there would be no gravity but their own they would spin. wouldnt they?

Originally Posted by time machine bob

what is happening in the case of an acident of two cars? the possebility that they stop and not doing anything when they hit each over at the front is small. the back of the cars will move sidewards. if there would be no gravity but their own they would spin. wouldnt they?

I'm not really sure on those specifics but I'll point that since the cars are on the Earth which is spinning, it's not a good example.
A stationary car is still on a planet that is spinning at 1,000 mph...