Vol.

6, 2021-15

On the N-Body=Single-Body Multiscale Equivalence

Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research, 050030 Medellin, Colombia
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.21992.60160

Abstract

Representing a set of bodies by a single composite body is a common strategy in multiscale

modeling. In this report, the most important equivalent properties of the composite body,
including mass, position, velocity, momentum, force, energy and sphere of action, are derived
in terms of the properties of the individual components. While most of these results are pretty
intuitive, the emergence of the concept of internal energy of the composite body is particularly
remarkable. These results are expected to help understanding the N-body problem.

Keywords

Energy, Interaction, Internal Energy, Momentum, Motion, Multiscality, N-body Problem

1. Introduction

In previous reports [1,2] the motion and interaction of two monoatomic molecules during
collision were considered. The mathematical analysis of the equations of motion led to the
emergence of the conservation equations of momentum and energy. One interesting result
was an alternative, but equally valid, expression for the conservation of energy (in a general
three-dimensional collision):

( ) ( )

(1.1)

where and are the masses of the interacting molecules, is the three-dimensional
relative velocity vector (relative to molecule 1), is the intermolecular interaction potential
experienced when the centers of mass of the molecules are separated by the distance , and
is the constant total energy of the pair of molecules.

23/09/2021 ForsChem Research Reports Vol. 6, 2021-15 (1 / 8)

www.forschem.org
 On the N-Body=Single-Body
Multiscale Equivalence
Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

Let us recall that the conventional expression for the conservation of energy is [3]:

( )
(1.2)

where and are the velocity vectors for each molecule, relative to the same arbitrary
inertial frame of reference, and is constant.

After some algebra, it can be shown that:

( )
( )
(1.3)
where

(1.4)
is the constant linear momentum of the pair of molecules.

Only when (like for example in the case of sustained oscillating collisions [2]), they will
be equal:
( )

(1.5)
We can therefore conclude that:

( )
(1.6)

Notice that represents the total absolute or internal energy [4] of the pair of molecules,
whereas represents the overall total energy also including the apparent kinetic energy
emerging from the arbitrary inertial frame of reference selected.

On the other hand, the internal kinetic energy term ( ) of the two molecules is
analogous to the kinetic energy of a single molecule with mass:

(1.7)
and velocity:

(1.8)

23/09/2021 ForsChem Research Reports Vol. 6, 2021-15 (2 / 8)

www.forschem.org
 On the N-Body=Single-Body
Multiscale Equivalence
Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

This provides the idea of representing a system composed by two interacting molecules a
single body, when observed from a larger scale, where the molecules cannot be individually
distinguished. Such equivalence, which can be extended to a general N-body system of
interacting molecules, will be discussed in the present report.

2. Equivalent Properties of a Larger Composite Body

2.1. Motion and Momentum

The basic problem considered is graphically represented in Figure 1. Two molecules with
masses and , with centers of mass located at three-dimensional positions and
(relative to any arbitrary inertial frame of reference), with individual velocity vectors and
(relative to the same arbitrary inertial frame of reference).

Figure 1. Equivalence between a two-body system (left) and a single-body system (right).

The position of the center of mass of the composite system ( ) can be determined from the
following relation:

( ) ( )
(2.1)

This expression indicates that the position of the center of mass is a pivot which equilibrates
the masses of the bodies, similar to the equilibrium position in a scale.

can be solved out from Eq. (2.1) yielding:

(2.2)

Since the positions of the individual molecules are changing, the position of the center of mass
of the composite system is also changing, as follows:

23/09/2021 ForsChem Research Reports Vol. 6, 2021-15 (3 / 8)

www.forschem.org
 On the N-Body=Single-Body
Multiscale Equivalence
Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

( ) ( )
( )

(2.2)

Now, the velocity of the composite system, determined by the velocity of its center of mass, is

(2.3)
Using Eq. (1.4), then Eq. (2.3) becomes:

(2.4)
Or equivalently,
( )
(2.5)
From which we may then conclude that:

(2.6)

Furthermore, the equivalent acceleration of the system will be:

(2.7)
where and are the specific forces exerted on each individual molecule.

Thus, the equivalent force acting on the composite system will be:

(2.8)

So far, these equivalences can be generalized for a multiple-body ( -body) composite system
as follows:

(2.9)
∑

(2.10)

23/09/2021 ForsChem Research Reports Vol. 6, 2021-15 (4 / 8)

www.forschem.org
 On the N-Body=Single-Body
Multiscale Equivalence
Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

(2.11)

(2.12)
where is the number of individual bodies in the composite system.

2.2. Energy

As we have previously seen, the conservation of energy (Eq. 1.1) is expressed in terms of
relative molecular positions and velocities, and these terms are different from the equivalent
positions and velocities previously found. In fact, the internal energy conservation (in the
absence of external forces) can be expressed as follows:

( )
(2.13)
where

(2.14)
( ) ( )

(2.15)
( ) ( )

(2.16)

On the other hand, the overall total energy (Eq. 1.6) becomes:

( )
(2.17)

Notice that the term represents the translational kinetic energy of the composite
body, whereas and ( ) represents the internal kinetic and potential energies
of the composite body.

Eq. (2.17) can be alternatively expressed as follows:

23/09/2021 ForsChem Research Reports Vol. 6, 2021-15 (5 / 8)

www.forschem.org
 On the N-Body=Single-Body
Multiscale Equivalence
Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

( ) ( )
(2.18)

where ( ) and ( ) are the internal energy and the translational kinetic energy of the
composite body, respectively.

This relationship can be generalized for a body composed of molecules (in the absence of
external forces) as follows:

( ) ( )
(2.19)

where

∑ ∑ ∑

(2.20)

∑ ∑ ∑
( )
∑

(2.21)

and therefore:

( )

∑ ∑ ∑
∑ ∑ ∑
∑

(2.22)

The last expression describes the internal energy of the composite body comprising
individual bodies, in terms of the individual masses and velocities, and their pair interactions.

2.3. Sphere of Action

A full equivalence of the composite body to the -body system also requires finding the
corresponding sphere of action [5,6] of the composite body. Notice that volume of action of
the composite body is not necessarily spherical, even when the volumes of action of the
individual molecules can be considered spherical. See the 2-body example depicted in Figure 2.

23/09/2021 ForsChem Research Reports Vol. 6, 2021-15 (6 / 8)

www.forschem.org
 On the N-Body=Single-Body
Multiscale Equivalence
Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

However, assuming that the system of reference is arbitrary, or considering the possibility that
the composite body rotates, the volume of action can ultimately be represented as a sphere
with a radius equal to the distance between the equivalent center of mass and the farthest
point of the volume of action ( ).

Figure 2. Equivalence of the sphere of action for a two-body system.

Mathematically, the radius of the sphere of action for the composite body can be determined
as follows, for the two-body system:

(‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ )

(( ) ( ) )

(2.23)

or in general for a -body system:

(‖ ‖ )
(2.24)

23/09/2021 ForsChem Research Reports Vol. 6, 2021-15 (7 / 8)

www.forschem.org
 On the N-Body=Single-Body
Multiscale Equivalence
Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

3. Conclusion

We can therefore conclude that different bodies observed from a larger scale, can be
represented by a single body with equivalent properties: Equivalent mass, equivalent position
of the center of mass, equivalent velocity, and equivalent radius of the sphere of action. The
total kinetic energy of the composite body is the sum of the kinetic energy of the individual
components, and is also the sum of the equivalent translational kinetic energy of the
composite body plus an internal kinetic energy term, related to the relative motion of the
components. Furthermore, the total energy of the composite system will also take into
account the potential interaction between the components, which is also part of the total
internal energy of the composite body (in the absence of external forces). These results are in
agreement with the relativity and multiscality of kinetic energy, previously explained [4].

Acknowledgments

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public,
commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

References

[1] Hernandez, H. (2021). Collision Dynamics between Two Monoatomic Molecules. ForsChem
Research Reports, 6, 2021-13. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29912.62726.

[2] Hernandez, H. (2021). Sustained Oscillating Collisions between Two Monoatomic Molecules.
ForsChem Research Reports, 6, 2021-14. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29666.86724.

[3] Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2018). Fundamentals of Physics. 11th Edition. John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken (NJ). Section 9-7. pp. 237-239. https://www.wiley.com/en-
us/Fundamentals+of+Physics%3A+Extended%2C+11th+Edition-p-9781119306856.

[4] Hernandez, H. (2020). Understanding Temperature: Relativity and Multiscality of Kinetic

Energy. ForsChem Research Reports, 5, 2020-19. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35255.34720.

[5] Hernandez, H. (2017). Clausius’ sphere of action for different intermolecular potentials.
ForsChem Research Reports, 2, 2017-10. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.25246.23363.

[6] Clausius, R. V. (1859). X. On the mean length of the paths described by the separate
molecules of gaseous bodies on the occurrence of molecular motion: together with some other
remarks upon the mechanical theory of heat. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical
Magazine and Journal of Science, 17(112), 81-91. doi: 10.1080/14786445908642626.

23/09/2021 ForsChem Research Reports Vol. 6, 2021-15 (8 / 8)

www.forschem.org