- #1
issacnewton
- 1,000
- 29
Hi
I have posted the picture of the problem. I have already done the problem but I have some
questions. Here the trailer is accelerating due to the applied force P. I used an inertial frame of
reference at some distance to the left of the car.And then did the torque calculations with respect to the stationary frame. But the author's (Serway,Jewett) solution takes center of mass (CM) as the origin of the coordinate system to calculate the net torque.
Now my question is about the choice of coordinate system. Physics laws are valid in an inertial frames of references. Since the trailer is accelerating, how can we fix the coordinate system to the CM of the trailer for the purpose of calculations. In such case, we will need to come up with some pseudo forces.
Any inputs ?
thanks
I have posted the picture of the problem. I have already done the problem but I have some
questions. Here the trailer is accelerating due to the applied force P. I used an inertial frame of
reference at some distance to the left of the car.And then did the torque calculations with respect to the stationary frame. But the author's (Serway,Jewett) solution takes center of mass (CM) as the origin of the coordinate system to calculate the net torque.
Now my question is about the choice of coordinate system. Physics laws are valid in an inertial frames of references. Since the trailer is accelerating, how can we fix the coordinate system to the CM of the trailer for the purpose of calculations. In such case, we will need to come up with some pseudo forces.
Any inputs ?
thanks