Outline

1. Center of mass (CM)

2. Newton’s 2nd law for a system of particles

System of particles

Le Quang Nguyen
www4.hcmut.edu.vn/~leqnguyen
nguyenquangle59@yahoo.com

1a. Motion of a system of particles 1b. Center of mass

• So far, we have considered motion of point-like • Look more closely at these examples: Baton
particles only. motion, Hurdler motion.
• Motion of large objects, or system of particles, is • In each case, we can define a special point that
more complex. moves according to Newton’s 2nd law for a
• Example 1: motion of a baton. particle: the system’s center of mass (CM).
• Example 2: motion of a hurdler. • The CM is defined by:
1
rCM = ∑ mi ri



M i

• where M is the system’s mass, and the sum is

taken over all particles of mass mi and position
ri in the system.
Motion of a wrench
 Example 1.1 Answer to example 1.1
A system consists of • On x and y axis:
three particles located m x + m2 x2 + m3 x3
as shown in the figure, xCM = 1 1
m1 + m2 + m3
with m1 = m2 = 1.0 kg
and m3 = 2.0 kg. ‫ݎ‬Ԧଷ m1 y1 + m2 y2 + m3 y3
yCM = ൈ ‫ݎ‬Ԧ஼ெ
Find the center of mass m1 + m2 + m3
of the system. • Thus:
‫ݎ‬Ԧଵ ‫ݎ‬Ԧଶ 1 + 2 + 2× 0 3




m1r1 + m2r2 + m3r3 xCM = = = 0.75( m )


rCM = 1+1+2 4
m1 + m2 + m3 1 × 0 + 1 × 0 + 2× 2 4
yCM = = = 1( m)
1+1+2 4

Example 1.2 Answer to example 1.2

Find the center of mass of a y Set the origin at center O: y

uniform hoop. • For any element dm
there is always a ‫ݎ‬Ԧ dm
Uniform: the mass is
symmetrical one.
−‫ݎ‬Ԧ
uniformly distributed,
Or mass density is a O x • Such pairs cancel out: O x
constant everywhere ෍ ݉௜ ‫ݎ‬Ԧ௜ = 0 → ‫ݎ‬Ԧ஼ெ = 0 dm
around the hoop.
• For a uniform and
symmetrical object: the
center of mass is at the
center of symmetry.
 Example 1.3 Answer to example 1.3
Show that the center of mass of a rod of • Consider a small x
mass M and length L lies midway between its segment of length dx at
ends, assuming the rod has a uniform mass per position x.
unit length. • It has a mass dm = λdx. dx
• where λ is the mass per
L/2 Center of mass unit of length: λ = M/L
x
• Each element dm is a
particle, thus:
L
1 1
M over∑ M∫
xCM = xdm xCM = xdm
all dm

Answer to example 1.3 (cont.) Example 1.4

• Therefore: Suppose a rod is non-uniform such that its
L L
mass per unit length varies linearly with x
λ 1 according to the expression λ = αx, where α is a
xCM = ∫ xdx = ∫ xdx
M0 L0 positive constant. Find the x coordinate of the
center of mass as a fraction of L.
• where we have used λ = M/L
• Integrating from x = 0 to x = L: Mass per unit length at x:
x λ = αx
1 2 L L
xCM = x  =
2L  0 2 O
L
 Answer to example 1.4 Answer to example 1.4 (cont.)
• Consider a small x L
α α L αL3
segment of length dx at xCM = ∫ x 2dx =  x 3  ⇒ xCM = (1)
M0 3M 0 3M
position x.
• It has a mass dm = λdx. dx • The rod’s mass is:
• where λ varies with L
α 2 L
M = ∫ dm = ∫ λdx = α ∫ xdx = x 
2  0
position x: λ = αx
0
• Each element dm is a 2
particle, thus: αL
M= (2)
L 2
1 1 2
xCM = ∫ xdm = ∫ x ( αxdx ) • From (1) and (2) we have: xCM = L
M M0 3

Checkpoint 1.1 Checkpoint 1.2

A baseball bat of uniform density is cut at the A rod of length 30.0 cm has linear density (mass
location of its center of mass as shown. Which per length) given by:
piece has the smaller mass? λ = 50.0 + 20.0x
where x is the distance from one end, measured
in meters, and λ is in grams/meter.
X (a) What is the mass of the rod?
CM (b) How far from the x = 0 end is its center of
mass?
(a) right piece (b) left piece
(c) same mass (d) can’t say
 1c. CM’s velocity and acceleration Example 1.5

1


drCM 1


dri A projectile fired into the air suddenly explodes
rCM = ∑ mi ri = ∑ mi



into several fragments.
M i dt M i dt
What can be said about the motion of the center
of mass of the system made up of all the
1 1

vCM = ∑ mi vi = Psystem



fragments after the explosion?
M i M



dvCM 1 dvi 1
1

= ∑ mi ⇔ aCM = ∑ mi ai = ∑ Fi


dt M i dt M i M i



Fnet Fnet is the net external
aCM =
M force on the system.

Answer to example 1.5 Example 1.6

• Before explosion the


• Thus: aCM =


g Two skaters on frictionless ice hold opposite ends
rocket moves as one • The center of mass of a pole of negligible mass. An axis runs along
particle, thus follows still moves along a the pole, and the origin of the axis is at the center
a parabola. parabola. of mass of the two-skater system. One skater,
• After explosion: Fred, weighs twice as much as the other skater,


Ethel.
MaCM = Fnet
CM
• Fnet is the total
path 2M M
weight of all N
fragments:


Fnet = ( m1 + m2 + ... + mN ) g

= Mg

0m
 Example 1.6 (cont.) Answer to example 1.6



If Fred pulls hand over hand along the pole so as aCM = Fnet = 0
to draw himself to Ethel, • The skater’s center of mass stays at rest at the
(a) How does the system’s CM move? origin O of the x axis.
(b) Where do the skaters meet? • After they meet at x, the CM’s position is:
m1 x1 + m2 x2
xCM = x1 = x 2 ≡ x
m1 + m2
m1 x + m2 x m1 + m2
xCM = = x=x
m1 + m2 m1 + m2
• So they meet at their CM or the origin O.

2. Newton’s 2nd law for a system Example 2.1

• We have: Two carts come into collision on an air track.


(a) Find the carts’ velocities after collision.
Psystem = MvCM
(b) Find the velocity of the system’s center of


dPsystem

mass before and after collision.
dvCM

⇒ =M = MaCM
dt dt


dPsystem
Fnet is the net external
• Thus: = Fnet
dt force on the system.

• If Fnet = 0, the system’s momentum is conserved,

thus its CM moves with constant velocity.
 Answer to example 2.1 (a) Answer to example 2.1 (b)
• There is a zero net force on the horizontal • The center of mass velocity is given by:



direction, thus the horizontal component of the MvCM = Psystem
system’s momentum is conserved. • Projecting on the x axis:
• Let the x axis point to the right, we have on x: MvCM = Psystem
m1v = m1v1 + m2v2 ⇒ 1 = v1 + 0.7v2 • Before collision:
• The system’s kinetic energy is conserved Psystem = 1 ⇒ vCM = 1 1.7 = 0.59 m s
(elastic collision):
• After collision:
1 m v2 = 1 m v2 + 1 m v2
2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2
⇒ 1 = v12 + 0.7v22 Psystem = 1 × 0.18 + 0.7 × 1.18 = 1.00
• Solving the system: v1 = 0.18, v2 = 1.18 m/s. ⇒ vCM = 1 1.7 = 0.59 m s
• Illustration.
• When Fnet = 0, the CM has constant velocity.

Checkpoint 2.1 Example 2.2 (a)

Sphere A has mass mA = 1.5 kg and is moving A billiard ball moving at 5.00 m/s strikes a
with speed vA = 2 m/s on a frictionless tabletop. It stationary ball of the same mass. After the
makes a head-on elastic collision with a stationary collision, the first ball moves at 4.33 m/s at an
sphere B of mass mB = 3 kg. After the collision, angle of 30.0° with respect to the original line of
find: motion. Assuming an elastic collision, find: (a)
a) The speeds of the two spheres. the struck ball’s velocity after the collision.
b) The speed of their center of mass. v1
v
Head-on: spheres move on the line going through
their center ⇒ no change of direction after θ
collision. v2
 Answer to example 2.2 (a) Example 2.2 (b)
• As the collision is elastic, the two balls’ kinetic (b) Find the struck ball’s angle of scattering after
energy is conserved: the collision.
mv2 2 = mv12 2 + mv22 2 ⇒ v2 = v2 − v12

v2 = 52 − 4.332 = 2.5( m s )
v1
v1 v
v θ
v2
θ
v2

Answer to example 2.2 (b)

• Because the net
external force on y- y
axis is zero the
v1
system’s momentum
v
on y is conserved. x
θ
mv y = mv1 y + mv2 y
v2
• Therefore:
0 = v1 sin30° − v2 sin θ
⇒ sin θ = v1 sin30° v2
θ = sin −1 ( 4.33 × 0.5 2.5 ) = 60°