Where does the center of mass lie if two masses are equal in a two body mass system?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the position of the center of mass in a system of two bodies that have equal masses. The center of mass in such a system lies at the midpoint between the two masses, as they are equal and thus balance each other out.
Answer
The center of mass lies exactly in the middle of both masses.
If two masses are equal in a two-body system, the center of mass lies exactly in the middle of both masses.
Answer for screen readers
If two masses are equal in a two-body system, the center of mass lies exactly in the middle of both masses.
More Information
When two masses are equal, each exerts the same 'pull' on the center of mass, leading to it being centrally located along the line joining them.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume the center of mass is closer to one of the masses without considering that they are equal.
Sources
- Centre of Mass for Two Particles - Toppr - toppr.com
- Center of Mass A) Overview B) Systems of Particles and the - PDF - courses.physics.illinois.edu
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