From this equation for a rigid body we can also generate a statement relating external torque and total angular momentum:

τext =    

Just as an external force changes the total linear momentum of a system of particles, an external torque changes the angular momentum of a rigid body.

To illustrate this very simple concept, we examine a very simply situation. Consider a bicycle wheel. By pedaling the bike we exert a net external torque on the wheel, causing its angular velocity to increase, and thus its angular momentum to follow suit.

In the next section, we will use the equation relating torque and angular momentum to derive another conservation law: the conservation of angular momentum.