A system is a defined collection of objects considered for analysis. It separates the objects of interest from the environment to study forces and motion.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
In Newton's second law, a system helps identify which forces act on the objects being studied.
Internal forces within a system do not affect the net force or acceleration of the system.
The boundary of a system is arbitrary and can be chosen to simplify problem-solving.
External forces acting on a system determine its acceleration according to $F = ma$.
Choosing an appropriate system can make it easier to apply Newton's laws and solve dynamics problems.