| BETA : Translation : Center of Mass 12 : Center Of Mass : Vector Velocity Of Center of Mass : BETA Physics Homework Exercise
Description : Velocity of the center of mass for a two dimensional two mass system.
Discussion : The center of mass is on the line between the two masses, and is closest to the heavier mass. If the two masses are equal the center of mass will be halfway between the two masses. See Figure Vector Velocity Of Center Of Mass For Two Masses The velocity of the center of mass can be calculated by.
vx = (ma * va * cosd(θa) + mb * vb * cosd(θb)) / (ma + mb)
vy = (ma * va * sind(θa) + mb * vb * sind(θb)) / (ma + mb)
vc = √(vx2 + vy2)
θc = atan2d(vy, vx)
Solving For a
vx = vc * cosd(θc)
vy = vc * sind(θc)
user defined variables vax and vay
vax = (vx * (ma + mb) - mb * vb * cosd(θb)) / ma
vay = (vy * (ma + mb) - mb * vb * sind(θb)) / ma
solve for va
va = √(vax2 + vay2)
θa = atan2d(vay, vax)
where
ma mb = mass a and b
va vb vc = velocity of a b and center of mass c
vx vy = cartesian coordinates of vc
vax vay = cartesian coordinates of va
If two masses collide and are joined together after the collision, the velocity of the joined masses is equal to the velocity of the center of mass.
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