SYSTEM OF PARTICLES

Centre of mass (C):

ur
Consider a rigid body or a system of particles of mass mi at ri .
Let C be the centre of mass of the system.
ur
rc is the position vector of C
uur
rci is the position vector of mi w.r.t., C
By triangle law of vectors, we have,
ur ur uur
ri = rc + rci
Multiplying by mi and adding, we get,
ur ur uur
mi ri = mi rc + mi rci ur
i i
ur {Q rc is constant and rc mi = rc M }
= M rc + zero
uur
Where M = total mass of the system = mi and mi rci = 0 , since the system is
symmetric w.r.t., C .
ur
ur 1 ur ur mi ri
rc = mi ri or rc =
M i mi
This gives the position vector of C .
ur
Definition: For a system of particles of masses mi at ri , the centre of mass is a point with
ur
ur mi ri
rc = .
mi
ur ur
Since rc = xc $i + yc $j + zc k$ and ri = xi $i + yi $j + zi k$ , the co-ordinates of C are given by
mi xi mi yi mi zi
xc = , yc = and zc = .
mi mi mi
Solid bodies: For solid bodies, the mass dm in a volume dV is dm = dV = dx dy dz ; with
= density.
ur 1 r r
Thus, rc =
M r dV where dV is the volume element at r .

M ur 1 r
If = constant = , rc = r dV .
V V
Newtons II law for a system of particles:
Consider a system of N particles.
ur
Let mi = mass of i th particle with position vector ri .
N
M = mi = total mass of the system.
i =1
ur
C = centre of mass of the system with position vector rc .
ur 1 ur
rc = mi ri
M
 SYSTEM OF PARTICLES

ur ur
or mi ri = M rc
Differentiating twice w.r.t time ' t ' , we get,
ur ur
d 2 ri d 2 rc
mi 2 = M 2
dt dt
ur uur
or mi ai = M ac ----------- (1)
ur
ur d 2 ri
where, ai = 2 = acceleration of mi .
dt
ur
uur d 2 rc
ac = 2 = acceleration of centre of mass.
dt
The particles interact by mutual forces (internal force).
ur int
Let F ij = internal force on mi by j th particle.
Total internal force on mi by all the remaining ( N 1) particles is
ur int ur int
F i = F ij , i j ---- (2)
j

ur ext
Let F i = external force on mi .
The equation of motion of the i th particle is,
ur ur ext ur int
mi ai = (net force on mi ) = F i + F i
For the entire system, the equation of motion is obtained by summing this over ' i ' .
N ur ur ext ur int
mi ai = F i + F i
i =1 i i
uur ur ext ur int
M ac = F i + F ij -------- (3) (by equation (1) and equation (2))
i i j

But, by Newtons III law, internal forces form action reaction pairs which are equal and
ur ur
opposite i.e., F ij = F ji .

( )
ur int 1 ur ur
Thus,
i j
F ij = F ij + F ji = zero .
2 i j
Also, F
i
i
ext
= net external force = F(ext
net )
.

uur
Equation (3) becomes F(ext
net )
= M ac .

This is Newtons II law for a system of particles.

( )
ur
Linear Momentum p :

Linear momentum of a particle is the product of its mass and transitional velocity.
ur
uur ur d ri
Thus, pi = mi vi = mi .
dt
Linear momentum of a system of particles is the vector sum of momenta of all its particles.
ur
ur uur d ri
p = pi = mi
i i dt

VIJAYA COLLEGE Page 2

 SYSTEM OF PARTICLES

Differentiating w.r.t time ' t ' ,

ur uur ur
dp d pi d 2 ri ur
= = mi 2 = mi ai
dt i dt i dt
But, by Newtons II law,
uur ur
Fnetext = M ac = mi ai
uur
d pi
= F ext
i dt
ext
In the absence of external forces, Fnet =0.
uur ur
dp dp
i =0=
i dt dt
ur
p = total linear momentum = constant.
Thus, in the absence of net external force on the system the total linear momentum
of the system is conserved.
This is called the law of conservation of momentum.
System with varying mass:
By Newtons II law, we have,
ur
F ext = rate of change of momentum.
ur
( )
ur dp d r
F ext = = mv
dt dt
If mass varies with time, then we get,
r
ur dm r dv
F ext = v + m
dt dt
ur dm r r
or F ext = v + ma
dt
This is Newtons II law for varying mass.
Rocket motion:
Consider a rocket with initial mass m and initial velocity v . We neglect external
forces such as gravitation and air resistance. The fuel is assumed to burn at a constant rate
and the exhaust gases escape at a constant velocity vg . The mass = m after time ' t ' when the
velocity has increased to v .
Finding acceleration:
Let a mass dm be lost as exhaust gases
vg in a small time dt . Initial momentum pi = mv
as time t .
Final momentum p f = ( m dm )( v + dv ) ( dm ) vg
vg
= mv + mdv vdm ( dm ) vg

[neglecting dm dv ]

VIJAYA COLLEGE Page 3

 SYSTEM OF PARTICLES

In the absence of external forces, according to principle of conservation of

momentum, pi = p f .
mv = mv + mdv vdm vg dm

mdv = dm ( v + vg )

But, v + vg = u = relative velocity of gases w.r.t rocket { ve Q u is opp. to v }

mdv = u dm ---------- (1)
dv dm
or, m = u
dt dt
u dm
or acceleration a=
m dt
Since ' m ' decreases with lapse of time, ' a ' keeps increasing.
Finding velocity:
dm
By equation, dv = u
m
v m m
dm dm
Integrating, we get, dv =
v
u
m m
= u
m m
{since u is constant}

v v = u ( ln m ln m ) = +u ( ln m ln m )

m m
= u ln v = v + u ln
m m
Multistage rockets: If m f is the final mass of rocket after all the fuel is exhausted, then
m
vmax = v + u ln . We see that, vmax is larger if m f is lesser. Thus, rejecting empty
m
f
containers of fuel help in increasing vmax , by reducing m f . This is achieved in multistage
rockets.

VIJAYA COLLEGE Page 4