Center of Mass Dynamics
Summary
The center of mass in terms of dynamics describes the force the center of mass will feel and its effect on motion.
Key Equations:
Read Time
⏱ 1 min
Definition
The center of mass in terms of dynamics describes the external forces as if all the mass were centred on a point. This describes the motion of the center of mass using Newton's laws.
Derivation
Assumptions
To derive an equation to describe the external forces on the center of mass, assume the following:
- The velocity center of a mass in terms of momentum is
- The derivative of velocity is acceleration
- The derivative of momentum is the external force