A projectile fired into the air follows a parabolic path. Midway in the air, it explodes into severa

Question

A projectile fired into the air follows a parabolic path. Midway in the air, it explodes into several fragments due to internal forces. Assuming no other external forces apart from gravity, what will be the path followed by the centre of mass of the fragments after the explosion?

Professor PC Thomas Classes · Answer

Internal forces (like those from an explosion) cannot change the total momentum or the trajectory of the centre of mass of a system. Only external forces (gravity) dictate the motion of the centre of mass. Thus, it continues on its original parabolic path.