why do two bodies that interact under certain forces rotate around the center of mass. It seems to make some sense, but i would like a deatailed explanation and a proof.
2006-12-21 13:10:44 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It's called "conservation of energy" and "conservation of angular momentum", together with "mathematics".
Newton's Laws of Motion, if true, say that (1) angular momentum is conserved, (2) here's the mathematical formula for angular momentum, (3) energy is conserved, (4) here's the mathematical formula for potential energy, which includes his law of gravitation, and (5) here's the mathematical formula for kinetic energy.
Then you combine them all to get the mathematical solution to the movement, and translate that solution back into what it represents physically, and . . . oh, look! they rotate in ellipses around the centre of mass. Mathematics is the key to the universe when you start with the correct equations.
2006-12-21 20:39:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out Wikipedia. They even show the equations. Go down the page to "barycenter"
2006-12-21 21:39:41 · answer #2 · answered by Raymond 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋