What is the rotational analog of linear momentum?

Angular momentum is indeed the rotational analog of linear momentum. In linear motion, momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity. When dealing with rotational motion, the concept shifts to angular momentum, which takes into account the moment of inertia (how mass is distributed relative to the axis of rotation) and the angular velocity (the rate of rotation).

Mathematically, angular momentum (L) is expressed as the product of the moment of inertia (I) and angular velocity (ω), typically written as L = Iω. This formulation shows that just as linear momentum is conserved in isolated systems, angular momentum also remains conserved in the absence of external torques. This conservation principle is fundamental in physics and applies widely, such as in the motion of planets, spinning tops, and in various engineering applications.

The other choices involve different concepts; for instance, torque relates to the rotational force that causes objects to start rotating, centripetal force pertains to the force needed to keep an object moving in a circular path, and linear energy is not a standard term in physics. Therefore, angular momentum is the correct response as it directly parallels the concept of momentum within the context of rotational motion.