Re: [Phys-l] Collision of irregular bodies

[Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

At 05:15 PM 8/12/2006, Chuck Britton wrote:

> ///
> My imagination is looking forward to examples where the mass
> distribution WILL affect the direction of the contact force.

///

> > >  > Can the mass distribution, etc affect the direction of force?
> >
> > Yes. Would you care for imaginary examples?
>
>
>         eagerly anticipating examples.


Continuing with the dumb bell example, I offer this:

consider a sphere of diameter 3 distance units, and mass of 27 mass units
 moving in deep space at a speed of 1 speed unit.
It makes a direct hit on one of two spheres comprising a dumb bell
whose mass in total is 1 mass unit, 99.9% of which is situated in the
red dumb bell sphere,  held by a connecting rod at 100 distance
units from the blue dumb bell sphere.
 In my frame, the dumb bell was stationary and its rod was in a
 line normal to the trajectory of the impacting sphere.
Consider the effect of the impact if it is the Red sphere which is hit
alternatively if the Blue sphere is hit on a radial line normal to
its connecting rod.

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Oh yes:  in space, oxide films do not build, so impacting surfaces weld.
:-)


Brian Whatcott    Altus OK    Eureka!