| These deformable systems can be quite complicated because these systems have some structure and size, they are not [[183_notes:point_particle|point objects]]. **External forces can be applied to different locations and the resulting motion can produce vibrations, rotations, and temperature changes, as well as translations.** However, you can simplify the system significantly by modeling it as a point particle located at its [[183_notes:center_of_mass|center of mass]]. Doing so, allows you to determine the translation kinetic energy change of the system, but nothing else. A [[183_notes:point_particle|point particle has no internal structure]], so it cannot vibrate, rotate, or experience any temperature change. This is because the forces acting on the different parts of the system add to produce the net force, which (in this model) acts at the center of mass. **The work done by this force over the displacement of the center of mass precisely determines the translation kinetic energy of the system.** | These deformable systems can be quite complicated because these systems have some structure and size, they are not [[183_notes:point_particle|point objects]]. **External forces can be applied to different locations and the resulting motion can produce vibrations, rotations, and temperature changes, as well as translations.** However, you can simplify the system significantly by modeling it as a point particle located at its [[183_notes:center_of_mass|center of mass]]. Doing so, allows you to determine the translation kinetic energy change of the system, but nothing else. A [[183_notes:point_particle|point particle has no internal structure]], so it cannot vibrate, rotate, or experience any temperature change. This is because the forces acting on the different parts of the system add to produce the net force, which (in this model) acts at the center of mass. **The work done by this force over the displacement of the center of mass precisely determines the translation kinetic energy of the system.** |