Can this container move?
You cannot apply any external force.
STAGE 1: Static Container with Center of Mass on Left Side as MOST of the mass is accumulated on Left
Code:
.---------------------.
|o |
|oo |
|ooo _ |
|ooo (ö)<------------Chimp throws balls in other sac
Ctr-Mass-->#00 /|\ |
|0000 ^ | <------- Lightweight Container
|0000 / \ |
'=====================' <------- Frictionless surface
<------- L --------->
Code: .---------------------.
|o . |
|oo . o |
|ooo _ . . |
|ooo (ö). . o| <------- Lightweight Container
Old CM-->#00 \|/ . oo<---------- Balls on Right Side
|0000 ^ 000|
|0000 / \ 0000|
'=====================' <------- Frictionless surface
<------- L --------->
After all balls are moved from left side to right side, the center of mass shifts from left & all balls were accumulated to the high density right side. But center of mass has to shift under the application of the external force which is 0 in our case. So system moves on the left side by distance L to adjust the center of mass at the same vertical Line in the reference frame. So for anybody standing outside the container, the container should mov by a distance L into its left from right side.
See figure below:
STAGE 3: Static Container with Center of Mass on Right Side as MOST of the mass is accumulated on Right
Code:<======== Container Moved to Left side by nearly a distance of L to adjust Center of Mass on Same Refernece Line bcoz Center of Mass cannot move bcoz external force is zero
.---------------------.
| o|
| oo|
| _ ooo|
| (ö) ooo| <------- Lightweight Container
| /|\ 00#<---------- New center of Mass
| ^ 0000|
| / \ 0000|
'=====================' <------- Frictionless surface
<------- L --------->
So with a near perfection in the above figures you guys look at STAGE 1 and STAGE 3 carefully.
The Center Of Mass indicated as '#' is on same vertical line indicating that center of mass does not move as there is no external force applied but because it is shifted inside the container, container has to shift its position to a little left in order to bring center of mass (STAGE 3) on the same vertical line that passed through old center of Mass (STAGE 1).
Isn't that amazing?