Relativistic angular momentum can be compactly abbreviated in tensor index notation where the indices "i" and "j" take the values 1, 2, 3. On the other hand, the components can be systematically displayed fully in a 3 × 3 antisymmetric matrix This quantity is additive, and for an isolated system, the total angular momentum of a system is conserved. In classical mechanics, the three-dimensional quantity for a particle of mass "m" moving with velocity u has the dimensions of "mass moment" – length multiplied by mass. It is related to the boost (relative velocity) of the centre of mass (COM) of the particle
Angular velocity particle moves around the origin in a circle; but when there is no cross-radial component, it moves in a straight line from the origin. Since radial motion leaves the angle unchanged, only the cross-radial component of linear velocity contributes to angular velocity. The angular velocity "ω" is the rate of change of angle with respect to time, which can be computed from the cross-radial velocity as: Here the cross-radial speed formula_13 is the signed magnitude of formula_11, positive for counter-clockwise motion, negative for clockwise. Taking polar coordinates for the linear velocity v gives magnitude "v" (linear speed) and angle "θ"