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hndalama
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Homework Statement
The book I am reading says that given a point mass(m) at the point x, the quantity mx is the "moment about the origin)"
It then defines the moment of a collection of points as M = m(1)x(1) + m(2)x(2) + ... m(n)x(n)
where m(1) = mass of first point and x(1)=distance of first point from origin
It then defines that the center of gravity (X) of the point masses is the moment (M) divided by the total mass(m). X=M/m
This is all in one dimension,i.e. like the point masses are on a seesaw(x axis)
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Previously I learned that moment = torque. In one dimension, torque is defined as the force times the distance from the pivot point. hence torque of a point mass from the origin is Fx.
if moment= Fx then how can the "moment about the origin" be mx? mass is not a force.