Formula for acceleration between to object.

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the formula for acceleration between two objects of mass \( m_a \) and \( m_b \) under gravitational influence, represented by the equation \( \frac{d^2r}{dt^2} = -G\frac{(m_a + m_b)}{r^2} \). Participants debate its validity in relation to Galileo's law of free fall, concluding that the formula is correct when considering the center of mass (CoM) frame. It is established that Galileo's conjecture only holds when one mass is significantly larger than the other, and the effective potential for the system indicates stable orbital solutions when angular momentum is considered.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's law of gravitation
  • Familiarity with the concept of center of mass (CoM)
  • Knowledge of gravitational potential energy
  • Basic calculus for deriving motion equations
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  • Study the derivation of gravitational force and acceleration in a two-body system
  • Learn about the effective potential in gravitational systems
  • Explore the implications of the universal law of gravitation on orbital mechanics
  • Investigate the differences between inertial and non-inertial reference frames
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Physics students, astrophysicists, and anyone interested in gravitational dynamics and the principles of motion in multi-body systems.

  • #31
TurtleMeister said:
I don't follow that. I was assuming that your scenario was for three objects, the earth, and two objects in Earth free fall. If that is the case then you need to include all three objects in the same frame. If that is not the case then can you be more specific about what your scenario is?

no, the scenario has been changed, sorry for not mentioning.

manishr said:
what i meant by that is,
let say there is another inertial frame f (beside the CoM, which is now an inertial frame).
if both objects are accelerating in same direction with respect to f,
=> there is an acceleration between CoM and f.
=> CoM cannot be inertial frame (now). because we have assumed that f is an inertial frame. so one of them has to non inertial, CoM is non inertial.

there is only two object in the space.
 
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  • #32
ManishR said:
i have no idea what you just said.

however

if there is only two point mass objects ma & mb with \vec{r_{0}} where \hat{r_{0}} is from ma to mb.

\frac{d^{2}}{dt^{2}}\vec{r_{a}}=-\left(\frac{m_{b}}{m_{a}+m_{b}}\right)\frac{d^{2}}{dt^{2}}\vec{r_{0}}

where \vec{r_{a}} is vector position of ma from an inertial frame.
Yes... And that tells you that you cannot solve the problem from accelerated frame how? Your dra/dt will be completely different, but dr/dt will be exactly the same, since it is frame-invariant.
 
  • #33
K^2 said:
And that tells you that you cannot solve the problem from accelerated frame how?

i have never said you cannot solve problem from accelerated frame.
what i said is,

a_a = \frac{d^2r_a}{dt^2} = -\frac{F_a}{m_a} = -G\frac{m_b}{(r_a + r_b)^2}

the step need correction if you use non inertial frame.
 
  • #34
Ah, of course. Acceleration of a body depends on acceleration of the reference frame. But we know how to correct for that, so we can still work from accelerated reference frame.
 

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