Torque the vector cross product, p is the particle's linear momentum, and r is the displacement vector from the origin (the origin is assumed to be a fixed location anywhere in space). The time-derivative of this is: This result can easily be proven by splitting the vectors into components and applying the product rule. Now using the definition of force formula_17 (whether or not mass is constant) and the definition of velocity formula_18 The cross product of momentum formula_20 with its associated velocity formula_21 is zero because velocity and momentum are parallel, so the second term vanishes. By definition, torque τ
Linear motion According to Newton's first law of motion, objects that do not experience any net force will continue to move in a straight line with a constant velocity until they are subjected to a net force. Under everyday circumstances, external forces such as gravity and friction can cause an object to change the direction of its motion, so that its motion cannot be described as linear. One may compare linear motion to general motion. In general motion, a particle's position and velocity are described by vectors, which have a magnitude and direction. In linear motion, the directions of all the vectors