- #36
Frigus
- 337
- 160
jbriggs444 said:I thought I'd posted that already in #26. It is a requirement based on torque and angular momentum conservation.
Thanks,jbriggs444 said:I thought I'd posted that already in #26. It is a requirement based on torque and angular momentum conservation.
To say it with pompous verbosity...
Given the constraints on the motion of the myriad bits of pancake-stuff imposed by the rigidity of the pancake, the motion of the pancake can be completely characterized by a linear translation rate of the center of mass and a rotation rate of the bits as they orbit that center in lock-step.
Given the magnitude, direction and application point of an external impulse on a pancake that is initially at rest, there is exactly one possible linear motion and exactly one possible rotation rate that can result.
We have calculated said rates and determined that an on-the-center force results in no rotation.
[For simplicity, we have restricted our attention to two dimensions and rotation in the plane]
I got it!
If we take granted that angular momentum is always conserved then it makes a lot of sense.