- #61
domephilis
- 54
- 6
One last thing I'd like to post on this thread. I have found the following explanation from Doc AI in response to this thread (https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/linear-and-angular-acceleration.184624/):
"The article is correct. The linear acceleration of the center of mass just depends on the net force on the object, not on where the force is applied. The angular acceleration about the center of mass depends on where the force is applied. (Both statements are just consequences of Newton's 2nd law.)
Realize that the work you do on an object is force times the distance that the contact point moves. When you push the object with an off-center force the contact point moves more (compared to an equal on-center force), thus it takes more work to maintain the force--that extra work goes into the rotational energy."
I think this really cleared it up for me intuitively. In my understanding, torque explains the "how" of the motion of an object, but F=ma is true regardless of how the motion occurs internally. The important thing for energy conservation is that the movement of the contact point is not the same as the movement of the CM. Hope this helps.
"The article is correct. The linear acceleration of the center of mass just depends on the net force on the object, not on where the force is applied. The angular acceleration about the center of mass depends on where the force is applied. (Both statements are just consequences of Newton's 2nd law.)
Realize that the work you do on an object is force times the distance that the contact point moves. When you push the object with an off-center force the contact point moves more (compared to an equal on-center force), thus it takes more work to maintain the force--that extra work goes into the rotational energy."
I think this really cleared it up for me intuitively. In my understanding, torque explains the "how" of the motion of an object, but F=ma is true regardless of how the motion occurs internally. The important thing for energy conservation is that the movement of the contact point is not the same as the movement of the CM. Hope this helps.