In particular , if a point mass rotates about an axis , then the angular momentum with respect to a point on the axis is related to the mass of the object , the velocity and the distance of the mass to the axis . It is a misconception that angular momentum is always about the same axis as angular velocity . Sometime this may not be possible , in these cases the angular momentum component along the axis of rotation is the product of angular velocity and moment of inertia about the given axis of rotation .