4.I.4E
Part IA, 2003
Write down an expression for the total momentum and angular momentum with respect to an origin of a system of point particles of masses , position vectors (with respect to , and velocities .
Show that with respect to a new origin the total momentum and total angular momentum are given by
and hence
where is the constant vector displacement of with respect to . How does change under change of origin?
Hence show that either
(1) the total momentum vanishes and the total angular momentum is independent of origin, or
(2) by choosing in a way that should be specified, the total angular momentum with respect to can be made parallel to the total momentum.