Inertial system
Positions, velocities and accelerations must be given relative to
some coordinate system, which we call a reference system. A reference system
where Newton's second law is exactly valid is an inertial system.
A reference system fixed in an accelerating train is not an
inertial system. A net force is acting on a body in the train, but the acceleration of the
body with respect to the train is zero. So Newton's second law is not valid in this
reference system.
A reference system S fixed in the Earth is not an inertial
system. The Moon pulls on the Earth, giving the Earth an acceleration which is not present
in S.
In a manybody system, a reference system where the center of mass is at rest or moves with a constant
velocity is an inertial system.
The velocities and accelerations shown in Orbit Xplorer are given
with respect to a reference system where the center of mass moves with the constant
velocity (usually zero) given in Parameters.
