Hi All,
I think we do have different explanations but we agree, and as nicely summarised by kuruman above, that shrinking starts from the terminal ends. I had been trying to explain this to my friends but no one agreed. Thanks kuruman, scottdave, haruspex, fewmet and PF for getting involved in...
Hi Kuruman,
I think its getting more complicated for me to understand it. Let's break down the process in terms of differentials of time snapshots, and let's consider 1, 2, 3 and 4 as individual masses rather combining any of them (e.g 1+2 etc.). At the very initial time dt masses 2 and 3 has...
Nothing is obvious :) To answer your question: No it will not (to correct it 'if no net external forces acting'). But how you are trying to relate this to what I said about shrinking process starts from the outside; I mean it does not give any visual explanation.
Yes they should shrink towards each other 'if' forces are acting constantly. 'But' the way I was thinking that forces are applied at the same and for one instant only then goes off.
Again, yes they will move towards each other but now as the mass is increased the displacement would be less...
Thanks, I have considered most of them already and showing here in image . Arrows show forces direction. Still I think only terminal bodies will move. Not sure though if am missing any other aspect.
Homework Statement
Imagine exactly same two bodies (same mass, same surface/friction etc) are attached with a string/spring and they suddenly start pulling towards each other with equal force. I can imagine they will move towards the center. If there is a chain (with defined number; not...