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The document discusses the mechanics of multiple particles, focusing on angular momentum and its conservation in the absence of external torques, with examples such as gravity between the Sun and Earth. It also covers different coordinate systems, particularly polar coordinates for position, velocity, and acceleration. Additionally, it explains inertial and non-inertial frames, including the effects of fictitious forces and the Coriolis force in rotating frames.

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2 views

class_3

The document discusses the mechanics of multiple particles, focusing on angular momentum and its conservation in the absence of external torques, with examples such as gravity between the Sun and Earth. It also covers different coordinate systems, particularly polar coordinates for position, velocity, and acceleration. Additionally, it explains inertial and non-inertial frames, including the effects of fictitious forces and the Coriolis force in rotating frames.

Uploaded by

zheyuemc2.763
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Class Three: Mechanics of multiple particles, Different

coordinate system, Inertial & non-inertial Frames

Mechanics of multiple particles


The total angular momentum:

dL
dt

  vi  Pi  ri  Fi 
i

 e
  ri    F ji  F i 

i  j 
1
  ri  F i   ri  r j  F ji
e

2 ij
 
i

  ri  F i  N
e e

Conservation in the absence of external torques


Example: Gravity between Sun and earth

Angular momentum transformation between the lab frame and the center-of-mass
frame:
1
rc 
M
m r
i
i i

ri  rc  ri '   mi ri '  0
i

L   mi ri  vi   mi rc  ri '  vc  vi '    
i i

 M rc  vc   mi ri 'vi '  M rc  vc  L '


i
Different coordinate system
Polar coordinate system (Position).
r  xiˆ  yˆj  zkˆ , x   cos  , y   sin 
ˆ  iˆ cos   ˆj sin  , ˆ  ˆj cos   iˆ sin 
iˆ  ˆ cos   ˆ sin  , ˆj  ˆ cos   ˆ sin 
   
r   cos  ˆ cos   ˆ sin    sin  ˆ cos   ˆ sin   zkˆ
 ˆ  zkˆ

Polar coordinate system (Velocity).


ˆ   iˆ sin   ˆj cos    ˆ
ˆ   iˆ cos   ˆj sin    ˆ

dr
 ˆ  ˆ  zkˆ  ˆ  ˆ  zkˆ
dt
Polar coordinate system (Acceleration).

d2r
dt 2
  
   2 ˆ  2    ˆ  zkˆ
  
Inertial & non-inertial Frames
In an inertial frame, Newton’s 2nd law is valid, i.e.,

F  ma
If we choose a difference reference frame, which moves relative to the inertial frame, we
have:
t'  t
r '(t ' )  r '(t )  r (t )  r0 (t )
d r ' d r d r0
   v '  v  v0
dt dt dt
d v ' d v d v0
   a '  a  a0
dt dt dt

In the new frame, we have, i.e.,

F  m a  m ( a '  a0 )  F  m a0  m a '

Note that if a0 is not zero, the new frame is not a inertial frame anymore, because
Newton’s second law changes its form.

To preserve the form of Newton’s second law, we shall add an inertial force (also called
fictitious force, pseudo force, etc.) to the force side of the equation, i.e.，

F  F inertial  m a ' , F inertial   m a0

Rotating non-inertial frame


In the rotating frame, if we choose a frame corotating with the object of interest, we need
to add two kinds of forces: centrifugal force, Coriolis force

 '    t , '     , '  , ˆ'  ˆ,    ' , ˆ  ˆ '


d2r
dt 2
     
    2 ˆ  2      ˆ  zkˆ

    
'  ''2   '  2  2  ''  ˆ ' 2  ''2  '    '' ˆ' zkˆ

F  m  '  2  2  ''   m 
'   '  ''2 
F '  2m '   m2  ''  ''

Problem: there is a smooth spinning plate of angular velocity w and radius R. In the
rotating frame of the plate, if a person moves with a constant speed v along the radial
direction towards the center of the plate, find the time dependence of the frictional force
on the shoes of the person.

Building up the physical intuition about the Coriolis force:

Examples: the water flow in the sink; flow of the atmosphere on earth;

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