Barycentre: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
imported>Daniel Mietchen (+subpages) |
imported>Daniel Mietchen (-physics) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | {{subpages}} | ||
In [[geometry | In [[geometry]], the '''barycentre''' or '''centre of mass''' or '''centre of gravity''' of a system of particles or a rigid body is a point at which various systems of force may be deemed to act. The [[gravitational attraction]] of a mass is centred at its barycentre (hence the term "centre of gravity"), and the [[angular momentum (classical)|(classical) angular momentum]] of the mass resolves into components related to the rotation of the body about its barycentre and the angular movement of the barycentre. | ||
The barycentre is located as an "average" of the masses involved. For a system of ''n'' point particles of mass <math>m_i</math> located at position vectors <math>\mathbf{x}_i</math>, the barycentre <math>\bar\mathbf{x}</math> is defined by | The barycentre is located as an "average" of the masses involved. For a system of ''n'' point particles of mass <math>m_i</math> located at position vectors <math>\mathbf{x}_i</math>, the barycentre <math>\bar\mathbf{x}</math> is defined by |
Revision as of 05:54, 28 November 2008
In geometry, the barycentre or centre of mass or centre of gravity of a system of particles or a rigid body is a point at which various systems of force may be deemed to act. The gravitational attraction of a mass is centred at its barycentre (hence the term "centre of gravity"), and the (classical) angular momentum of the mass resolves into components related to the rotation of the body about its barycentre and the angular movement of the barycentre.
The barycentre is located as an "average" of the masses involved. For a system of n point particles of mass located at position vectors , the barycentre is defined by
For a solid body B with mass density at position , with total mass
the barycentre is given by