PHYSICS

CENTRE OF MASS
DPP - 2
 DPP - 2
MOTION OF CENTRE OF MASS

1. A bomb travelling in a parabolic path under the effect of gravity, explodes in mid air. The centre
of mass of fragments will:
(1) Move vertically upwards and then downwards
(2) Move vertically downwards
(3) Move in irregular path
(4) Move in the parabolic path which the unexploded bomb would have travelled.

2. If a ball is thrown upwards from the surface of earth and during upward motion :
(1) The earth remains stationary while the ball moves upwards
(2) The ball remains stationary while the earth moves downwards
(3) The ball and earth both moves towards each other
(4) The ball and earth both move away from each other

3. Internal forces can change :

(1) the linear momentum but not the kinetic energy of the system.
(2) the kinetic energy but not the linear momentum of the system.
(3) linear momentum as well as kinetic energy of the system.
(4) neither the linear momentum nor the kinetic energy of the system.

4. If the external forces acting on a system have zero resultant, the centre of mass
(1) must not move (2) must accelerate (3) may move (4) may accelerate

5. Two balls are thrown in air. The acceleration of the centre of mass of the two balls while in air
(neglect air resistance)

(1) depends on the direction of the motion of the balls

(2) depends on the masses of the two balls
(3) depends on the speeds of the two balls
(4) is equal to g

6. Two particles of mass 1 kg and 0.5 kg are moving in the same direction with speed of 2m/s and
6m/s respectively on a smooth horizontal surface. The speed of centre of mass of the system
is :
10 10 11 12
(1) m/s (2) m/s (3) m/s (4) m/s
3 7 2 3

7. The motion of the centre of mass of a system of two particles is unaffected by their internal
forces :
(1) irrespective of the actual directions of the internal forces
(2) only if they are along the line joining the particles
(3) only if they are at right angles to the line joining the particles
(4) only if they are obliquely inclined to the line joining the particles.
8. Two objects of masses 200 gm and 500 gm possess velocities 10iˆ m/s and 3iˆ + 5ˆj m/s
respectively. The velocity of their centre of mass in m/s is :
5 25 ˆ 5
(1) 5iˆ − 25ˆj (2) ˆi − 25jˆ (3) 5iˆ + j (4) 25iˆ − ˆj
7 7 7

9. 2 bodies of different masses of 2kg and 4kg are moving with velocities 20m/s and 10m/s
towards each other due to mutual gravitational attraction. What is the velocity of their centre of
mass?
 (1) 5 m/s (2) 6 m/s (3) 8 m/s (4) zero

10. Two spheres of masses 2M and M are initially at rest at a distance R apart. Due to mutual force
of attraction, they approach each other. When they are at separation R/2, the acceleration of
the centre of mass of spheres would be

(1) 0 m / s2 (2) g m / s2 (3) 3g m / s2 (4) 12g m / s2

11. Two bodies A and B have masses M and m respectively, where M > m and they are at a
distance d apart. Equal force is applied to them so that they approach each other. The position
where they hit each other is

(1) Nearer to B (2) Nearer to A

(3) At equal distance from A and B (4) Cannot be decided

12. Two particles whose masses are 10 kg and 30 kg and their position vectors are ˆi + ˆj + kˆ and
−ˆi − ˆj − kˆ respectively would have the centre of mass at -
(iˆ + ˆj + k)
ˆ (iˆ + ˆj + k)
ˆ (iˆ + ˆj + k)
ˆ (iˆ + ˆj + k)
ˆ
(1) − (2) (3) − (4)
2 2 4 4

13. Two balls A and B of masses 100 gm and 250 gm respectively are connected by a stretched
spring of negligible mass and placed on a smooth table. When the balls are released
simultaneously the initial acceleration of B is 10 cm/sec2 west ward. What is the magnitude and
direction of initial acceleration of the ball A -
(1) 25 cm/sec2 East ward (2) 25 cm/sec2 North ward
(3) 25 cm/sec West ward
2
(4) 25 cm/sec2 South ward

14. A shell of mass m moving with velocity u suddenly breaks into 2 pieces. The part having mass
m/4 remains stationary. The velocity of the other shell will be :
3 4
(1) u (2) 2u (3) u (4) u
4 3

15. A stone is projected with an initial velocity at some angle to the horizontal. A small piece
separates from the stone before the stone reaches its maximum height. Then the piece will :
(1) fall to the ground
(2) fly horizontally initially and will then describe a parabolic path
(3) fly side by side with the parent stone along a parabolic path
(4) lag behind the parent stone increasing the distance from it.

16. Three particles with masses 10, 20 and 40gm are moving with velocities 10i,10 ˆ ˆj and 10kˆ
m/sec respectively. If due to some internal force, the first particle comes to rest and the velocity
of second becomes (3iˆ + 4ˆj) m/sec. then the velocity of third particle after the interaction is-
(1) ˆi + ˆj + 5kˆ (2) ˆj + 10kˆ (3) ˆi + ˆj + 10kˆ (4) ˆi + 3ˆj + 10kˆ

17. Two particles having mass ratio n : 1 are interconnected by a light inextensible string that
passes over a smooth pulley. If the system is released, then the acceleration of the centre of
mass of the system is :
2 2
 n + 1  n − 1  n + 1
(1) (n – 1)2 g (2)   g (3)   g (4)  g
 n − 1  n + 1  n − 1

18. A uniform thin rod of mass M and Length L is standing vertically along the y-axis on a smooth
horizontal surface, with its lower end at the origin (0,0). A slight disturbance at t = 0 causes the
 lower end to slip on the smooth surface along the positive x-axis, and the rod starts falling. The
acceleration vector of centre of mass of the rod during its fall is :
[ R is reaction from surface]
Mg + R Mg − R
(1) aCM = (2) aCM = (3) aCM = Mg − R (4) None of these
M M

19. In a vertical plane inside a smooth hollow thin tube a block of same mass as that of tube is
released as shown in figure. When it is slightly disturbed it moves towards right. By the time the
block reaches the right end of the tube then the displacement of the tube will be (where ‘R’ is
mean radius of tube). Assume that the tube remains in vertical plane.

2R 4R R
(1) (2) (3) (4) R
  2

20. A ball kept in a closed box moves in the box making collisions with the walls. The box is kept
on a smooth surface. The centre of mass :
(1) of the box remains constant (2) of the box plus the ball system remains
constant
(3) of the ball remains constant (4) of the ball relative to the box remains
constant

21. A man of mass M stands at one end of a plank of length L which lies at rest on a frictionless
surface. The man walks to the other end of the plank. If the mass of plank is M/3, the distance
that the plank moves relative to the ground is :
(1) 3L/4 (2) L/4 (3) 4L/5 (4) L/3

22. Two blocks A and B are connected by a massless string (shown in figure) A force of 30 N is
applied on block B. The distance travelled by centre of mass in 2s starting from rest is :
B
A
10kg 20kg F=30N

Smooth
(1) 1m (2) 2m (3) 3m (4) none of these

23. If the system is released, then the acceleration of the centre of mass of the system :

m
3m
g g
(1) (2) (3) g (4) 2g
4 2
24. Three particles of masses 1 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg are subjected to forces
(3iˆ − 2jˆ + 2k)N,
ˆ ( −ˆi + 2jˆ − k)N,
ˆ and (iˆ + ˆj + k)N
ˆ respectively. The magnitude of the acceleration
of the CM of the system is :
 11 −2 14 11 −2 22
(1) ms (2) ms−2 (3) ms (4) ms−2
6 6 6 6
25. Two bodies of mass 10 kg and 2 kg are moving with velocity 2iˆ − 7ˆj + 3kˆ m/s and
−10iˆ + 35ˆj − 3kˆ m/s respectively. The velocity of their centre of mass is :
(1) 2iˆ ms (2) 2kˆ ms (3) (2jˆ + 2k)
ˆ ms (4) (2iˆ + 2ˆj + 2k)
ˆ ms

26. Consider a system of two particles having masses m 1 and m2. If the particle of mass m 1 is
pushed towards the mass centre of particles through a distance d, by what distance would the
particle of mass m2 move so as to keep the mass centre of particles at the original position
m1 m m
(1) d (2) 1 d (3) d (4) 2 d
m1 + m2 m2 m1
27. Two identical particles move towards each other with velocity 2v and v respectively. This
velocity of centre of mass is –
(1) v (2) v/3 (3) v/2 (4) zero

28. Two blocks of masses 10kg and 4kg are connected by a spring of negligible mass and are
placed on a frictionless horizontal surface. An impulse gives a speed of 14 ms–1 to the heavier
block in the direction of the lighter block. Then, the velocity of the centre of mass is
(1) 30 ms–1 (2) 20 ms–1 (3) 10 ms–1 (4) 5 ms–1

29. A uniform chain of length 2 m is kept on a table such that a length of 60 cm hangs freely from
the edge of the table. The total mass of the chain is 4 kg. What is the work done in pulling the
entire chain on the table?
(1) 7.2 J (2) 3.6 J (3) 120 J (4) 1200 J

30. A body A of mass M while falling vertically downwards under gravity breaks into two parts; a
1 2
body B of mass M and, a body C of mass M. The centre of mass of bodies B and C taken
3 3
together shifts compared to that of body A towards:
(1) depends on height of breaking (2) does not shift
(3) shift towards body C (4) shift towards body B

31. Consider a two particle system with particles having masses m 1 and m2. If the first particle is
pushed towards the centre of mass through a distance d, by what distance should the second
particle be moved, so as to keep the centre of mass at the same position ?
m m1 m
(1) d (2) 2 d (3) d (4) 1 d
m1 m1 + m2 m2
32. A uniform sphere is placed on a smooth horizontal surface and a horizontal force F is applied
on it at a distance h above the surface. The acceleration of the centre

(1) is maximum when h = 0 (2) is maximum when h = R

(3) is maximum when h = 2R (4) is independent of h
33. A can of height h is filled with liquid of uniform density . If the liquid is coming out from the
bottom then centre of mass of the " can + water in the can "
(1) first ascends and then descends (2) first descends and then ascends
(3) always decreases (4) none of these
34. A man of mass M stands at one end of a plank of length L which lies at rest on a frictionless
horizontal surface . The man walks to the other end of the plank. If the mass of the plank is M/3,
the distance that the man moves relative to the ground is

(1) 3 L/4 (2) 4 L/5 (3) L/4 (4) none of these

35. When a block is placed on a wedge as shown in figure, the block starts sliding down and the
wedge also start sliding on ground. All surfaces are rough. The centre of mass of (wedge +
block) system will move
 rough

Block

Wedge

rough
(1) leftward and downward. (2) right ward and downward.
(3) leftward and upwards. (4) only downward.
36. A 2 kg body and a 3 kg body are moving along the x-axis. At a particular instant the 2 kg body
has a velocity of 3 ms–1 and the 3 kg body has the velocity of 2 ms–1. The velocity of the centre
of mass at that instant is
(1) 5 ms–1 (2) 1 ms–1 (3) zero (4) None of these

37. Two bodies of masses 2 kg and 4 kg are moving with velocities 2 m/s and 10m/s respectively
along same direction. Then the velocity of their centre of mass will be
(1) 8.1 m/s (2) 7.3 m/s (3) 6.4 m/s (4) 5.3 m/s

38. Two particle of masses m 1 and m2 initially at rest start moving towards each other under their
mutual force of attraction. The speed of the centre of mass at any time t, when they are at a
distance r apart, is
 mm 1   mm 1 
(1) Zero (2)  G 12 2 . t (3)  G 12 2 . t (4)
 r m1   r m2 
 m1m2 1 
G 2 . t
 r m1 + m2 

39. A body of mass 20 kg is moving with a velocity of 2 and another body of mass 10 kg is moving
with velocity V along same direction. The velocity of their centre of mass is
(1) 5/3 (2) 2/3 (3)  (4) Zero

40. The two particles X and Y, initially at rest, start moving towards each other under mutual
attraction. If at any instant the velocity of X is V and that of Y is 2V, the velocity of their centre
of mass will be
(1) Zero (2) V (3) 2V (4) V/2

41. A thin rod of length 'L' is lying along the x-axis with its ends at x = 0 and x = L. Its linear density
n
x
(mass/length) varies with x as k   , where n can be zero or any positive number. If the
L
position xCM of the centre of mass of the rod is plotted against 'n', which of the following graphs
best approximates the dependence of xCM on n ?

(1) (2)
(3) (4)
SOLUTION
 ANSWER KEY
DPP - 2
MOTION OF CENTRE OF MASS
1. (4) 2. (4) 3. (2) 4. (3) 5. (4) 6. (1) 7.
(1)
8. (3) 9. (4) 10. (1) 11. (2) 12. (1) 13. (1) 14.
(4)
15. (3) 16. (4) 17. (3) 18. (1) 19. (3) 20. (2) 21.
(1)
22. (2) 23. (1) 24. (2) 25. (2) 26. (2) 27. (3) 28.
(3)
29. (2) 30. (2) 31. (4) 32. (4) 33. (2) 34. (3) 35.
(2)
36. (4) 37. (2) 38. (1) 39. (1) 40. (1) 41. (4)
 SOLUTIONS
DPP - 2
MOTION OF CENTRE OF MASS

1. Angular velocity of every particle of disc is same

aP = 2rp , aQ = 2rQ
 rP > rQ  aP > aQ Ans.

2. For circular motion of particle ar not equal to zero, at may or may not be zero.

No.of revolutions 25
3. Time period = = = 1.79 sec. Now angular speed
time 14
2 2  3.14
= = = 3.51 rad/sec. Now magnitude of acceleration is given by
T 1.79
a = 2 I = (3.51) 2 × 80 = 985.6 cm/sec2 = 996 cm/sec2

4. In a circular motion
2 2
v2 a2 v   2v 
a=  =  2 =  1 =4
r a1  v1   v1 

5. In circular motion, necessary centripetal force to the man is provided by effective weight of man.
Thus,
9g
m × 9g = mr2 = mr × 42 n2 or n=
4 2 r
9  10
Given, r = 5m  n= = 0.675 rev/s
4  ( 3.14 )  5
2

6. Rate of change of momentum is force which is in radial direction in unifom circular motion, so
ans. (c)

v2
7. ac = , Radius is constant in case (a) and increase in case (b). So that magnitude of
r
acceleration is constant in case (a) and decrease in case (b).

8. at = a
v2
ar =
r

2
 v2 
a = ar + at   + a . Ans.
2
|a| = 
 r 
 2
 3  3 
mv 2  2 m 2 v  9 mv 2
9. F=  F1 =    = . F
R 3  4 R
 2 R
 
F1 − F 9  5
Force increased = ×100 =  − 1  100 =  100 = 12.5 %
F 4  4
11. There is no relation between centripetal and tangential acceleration. Centripetal acceleration is
must for circular motion but tangential acceleration may be zero.
mv12 mv 22 v1 r1 1
12. FC1 = FC2  =  = = Ans.
r1 r2 v2 r2 2
13. T = m2r
 T1 = 2T = m12 r
1 = 2 = 2 ×5= 50 ~ 7 rev/min Ans.

14. In uniform circular motion tangential acceleration remains zero but magnitude of radial
acceleration remains constant.