Rigid body dynamics The result is a set of m equations of motion that define the dynamics of the rigid body system. If the generalized forces Q are derivable from a potential energy V(q...,q), then these equations of motion take the form In this case, introduce the Lagrangian, L=T-V, so these equations of motion become These are known as Lagrange's equations of motion. The linear and angular momentum of a rigid system of particles is formulated by measuring the position and velocity of the particles relative to the center of mass. Let the system of particles P, i=1...,n be located at the coordinates
Angular velocity is formula_5, and the linear velocity is formula_6, so that formula_7. In the general case of a particle moving in the plane, the angular velocity is measured relative to a chosen center point, called the origin. The diagram shows the radius vector r from the origin "O" to the particle "P", with its polar coordinates formula_8. (All variables are functions of time "t".) The particle has linear velocity splitting as formula_9, with the radial component formula_10 parallel to the radius, and the cross-radial (or tangential or circular) component formula_11 perpendicular to the radius. When there is no radial component, the