Prove Theorem 7.2, page 167: The center of mass of a system of particles moves as if the total mass and external force were applied at this point.
Let F be the resultant force acting on particle v while f is the internal force on particle v due to particle v. We shall assume that f=0, i.e. particle v does not exert any force on itself.
By Newton's second law the total force on particle v is
where the second term on the left represents the resultant internal force on particle v due to all other particle.
Summing over v in equation (1), we find
Now according to newton's third law of action and reaction, f=f so that the double summation on the left of (2) zero. If we then write
(2) becomes
Since F is the total external force on all particles applied at the center of mass r, the required result is proved.