The Rigid Body

Abstract

Up to now we have discussed the phenomena of Classical Mechanics for the single mass point and for systems of mass points. Thereby, the respective physical problem was always considered to be solved as soon as the path line r _i (t) of each mass point had been derived from given force equations. For a macroscopic solid body with its particle number in the range of 10²³ per cm³ the mass-point concept of course becomes questionable. On the other hand, however, it is to be reflected whether one is really interested in the detailed microscopic particle motions. From a macroscopic point of view the solid appears as a continuum.