System of Particles

In the previous chapters, objects that can be treated as particles were only considered. We have seen that this is possible only if all parts of the object move in exactly the same way An object that does not meet this condition must be treated as a system of particles. Next, we will see that the complex motion of this object or system of particles can be represented by the motion of a point located at the center of mass of the system. The center of mass moves as if all of the mass of the object is concentrated there and as if the net external force acting on the system is applied there (at the center of mass). As well as representing an object by a particle, the concept of the center of mass is used to analyze the motion of many systems such as a system of two colliding blocks (particle-like objects) and the system of two colliding subatomic particles such as the neutron with the nucleus.