Term
| Compare the center of gravity of an object to its center of mass. Do these occur at the same location in the object? |
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Definition
| yes, as long as g is constant over the mass distribution. The center of gravity of an object is the point at which the entire weight may be considered to be concentrated. If g is constant over the entire mass distribution then the center of gravity coincides with the center of mass. |
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Term
| A system consists of two masses m1 and m2 at positions X1 and X2. What is the Xcm, the position of the center of mass of the system? |
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Definition
| The center of mass is at xcm = (m1x1 + m2x2)/m1m2 |
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Term
| A system consists of N particles, with masses m1, m2, ....., mn and positions r1, r2, ....., rn. What is rcm, the position of the center of mass of the system? |
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Definition
The center of mass is at rcm = Σ (miri)/Σ mi
summed over i ranging from 1 to N. |
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Term
| T or F. The center of mass of a system of particles moves as if all the mass of the system were concentrated there and all the external forces were acting on that point. |
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Definition
| True. This is Newton's second law as it applies to a system of particles. |
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