- #1
quincyboy7
- 32
- 0
The sigma notation of the center of mass is
xcom = 1/M * SIGMA mixi. I understand this because you are just taking a "weighted average" of sorts to find the correct x-value. My difficulty in understanding arises when this is expressed in integral form i.e.
xcom=1/M * INT xdm. First of all, doesn't integrating with respect to m suggest that x is dependent on m? Similarly, what does a "dm" mean in terms of an x-value? Couldn't an infinitesimal amount of mass exist anywhere on the x-axis? Wouldn't mdx make a lot more sense in the integral? Any help would be appreciated.
xcom = 1/M * SIGMA mixi. I understand this because you are just taking a "weighted average" of sorts to find the correct x-value. My difficulty in understanding arises when this is expressed in integral form i.e.
xcom=1/M * INT xdm. First of all, doesn't integrating with respect to m suggest that x is dependent on m? Similarly, what does a "dm" mean in terms of an x-value? Couldn't an infinitesimal amount of mass exist anywhere on the x-axis? Wouldn't mdx make a lot more sense in the integral? Any help would be appreciated.