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183_notes:center_of_mass [2021/03/04 13:08] – [The Motion of the Center of Mass] stumptyl | 183_notes:center_of_mass [2022/12/22 15:43] (current) – hallstein | ||
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The center of mass is a concept that helps us understand how the motion of a multi-particle system evolves with time. It is connected very strongly to the total momentum of a system as you will read. | The center of mass is a concept that helps us understand how the motion of a multi-particle system evolves with time. It is connected very strongly to the total momentum of a system as you will read. | ||
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=== Flocking birds === | === Flocking birds === | ||
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+ | //(This video is intended for visual learning assistance. Auditory Components are not necessary.)// | ||
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It's hard to think about what the motion of a system of objects means without some sort of example. The video above shows the motion of a flock of birds. Each individual bird flies in with its own direction and speed, but the flock (or the bulk) moves in a particular way (it appears to move in a circle or ellipse) that your eye can follow. What you are paying attention to is the motion of the " | It's hard to think about what the motion of a system of objects means without some sort of example. The video above shows the motion of a flock of birds. Each individual bird flies in with its own direction and speed, but the flock (or the bulk) moves in a particular way (it appears to move in a circle or ellipse) that your eye can follow. What you are paying attention to is the motion of the " | ||
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=== Calculating the center of mass === | === Calculating the center of mass === | ||
- | The center of mass of a system is the weighted average of the particles in that system. Consider a set of three particles with different mass (mi), which are all located a different locations relative to the origin (→ri). For these three particles, the center of mass of that system is the vector sum, | + | The center of mass of a system is the weighted average of the particles in that system. Consider a set of three particles with different mass (mi), which are all located a different locations relative to the origin (→ri). For these three particles, the center of mass of that system is the vector sum. |
→rcm=m1→r1+m2→r2+m3→r3m1+m2+m3=1Mtot(m1→r1+m2→r2+m3→r3) | →rcm=m1→r1+m2→r2+m3→r3m1+m2+m3=1Mtot(m1→r1+m2→r2+m3→r3) | ||
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The simulation below shows a binary star (red star and yellow star) system where the total momentum of the system is non-zero, but because there are no external forces to the two particle system, the center of mass moves with constant momentum (green sphere and line). | The simulation below shows a binary star (red star and yellow star) system where the total momentum of the system is non-zero, but because there are no external forces to the two particle system, the center of mass moves with constant momentum (green sphere and line). | ||
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==== Examples ===== | ==== Examples ===== | ||
* [[: | * [[: |