Terms and Formulae
Terms
Center of Mass
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The point at which a given net force acting on the system will produce the same
acceleration as if all the mass were concentrated at that point.
Impulse
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A force applied over a period of time. See definition of impulse.
Momentum
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The product of an object's mass and velocity. See definition of momentum.
Conservation of Momentum
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The principle stating that for any system with no external forces acting on it,
momentum will be conserved.
Formulae
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Position of the center of mass of a system of particles
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xcm = mnxn
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Velocity of the center of mass of a system of particles
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vcm = mnvn
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Acceleration of the center of mass of a system of particles
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acm = mnan
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Acceleration of the center of mass of a system of particles given an external
force
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Fext = Macm
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Definition of Impulse
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J = FΔt
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Change in velocity caused by an impulse
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J = mvf - mvo
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Definition of momentum
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p = mv
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Relation between force and momentum
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= F
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Impulse-Momentum Theorem
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J = Δp
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Definition of the linear momentum of a system of particles
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P = Mvcm
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