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MHD93
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Hello,
Can a closed system change the position of its center of mass if no external force is exerted on it?
Can a closed system change the position of its center of mass if no external force is exerted on it?
That's better. If there's no external force on a system, its center of mass will move with constant velocity.Mohammad_93 said:hmmmmm
I'd better have said "...change the velocity of its center of mass..."
Mohammad_93 said:Hello,
Can a closed system change the position of its center of mass if no external force is exerted on it?
No. The center of mass of the system--including the exhausted fuel--remains moving with constant velocity.pallidin said:Yes. BUT, an internal force must be destructive in effect in order to work.
This violates nothing, as energy is required and expended.
Think of a rocket with side thrusters.
There is no external force. The center of mass changes.
Doc Al said:No. The center of mass of the system--including the exhausted fuel--remains moving with constant velocity.
If you regard the fuel as not being part of the system, then the force it exerts is an external force.pallidin said:However, exhausted fuel is often conventionally regarded as not being a current part of the system at some point.
"Collectively" definitely yes, but with separation, other, effective aspects arise, including COM changes in the primary mass system.
Doc Al said:If you regard the fuel as not being part of the system, then the force it exerts is an external force.
Reread the question that started this thread:pallidin said:Doc, you're missing the point.
Internal explosion CAN create off-centered mass.
That the "total system" is centered is NOT the issue here.
What is the issue is that the primary mass system changes.
That's the point.
Seems pretty clear to me that the 'total system' is exactly the issue.Mohammad_93 said:Can a closed system change the position of its center of mass if no external force is exerted on it?
A closed system is a physical system that does not exchange any matter with its surroundings. This means that no matter can enter or leave the system, but energy can still be exchanged through work or heat.
The concept of a closed system is important in science because it allows us to study the behavior of a system without outside interference. This allows us to make more accurate predictions and observations about the system's properties and behavior.
The center of mass of a closed system is the point at which the system's mass is evenly distributed in all directions. It is the point at which the system can be balanced, and it remains constant even if the system is moving or rotating.
The center of mass can be calculated by dividing the total mass of the system by the sum of the individual masses multiplied by their respective distances from a chosen reference point. This can be represented mathematically as:
Center of Mass = (m1x1 + m2x2 + m3x3 + ...)/ (m1 + m2 + m3 + ...)
The concept of center of mass is important in physics because it helps us understand the overall motion of a system. It is used to analyze the forces and motion of objects, and can also be used to predict the behavior of a system in different situations, such as collisions or rotations. Additionally, the center of mass is a key factor in the conservation of momentum and the conservation of angular momentum principles.