Variable-mass system the momentum of the system varies for Therefore, by Newton's second law Noting that u - v is the velocity of d"m" relative to "m", symbolized as v, this final equation can be arranged as In a system where mass is being ejected or ablated from a main body, the derivation is slightly different. At time "t", let a mass "m" travel at a velocity v, meaning the initial momentum of the system is Since the main body will be losing mass, d"m" will be negative, meaning that at a time "t" + d"t" the momentum of the system becomes
Reduced mass a multitude of two-body problems, where classical mechanics is applicable. In a system with two point masses m and m such that they are co-linear, the center of mass may be found via formula_25. The moment of inertia of this system in the center of mass frame of reference is a two-body problem with two masses, each with its own distance to the center of mass. By converting to the equivalent reduced mass frame of reference, the system may be treated as a single reduced mass, μ, with a distance, d, equal to the sum of x and x. This