Center of Mass, Momentum & Collision

JEE Main level, single correct, medium

43 of 130

Question 43 of 130

Two blocks of masses 10kg10kg and 30kg30kg are placed on the same straight line with coordinates (0,0)cm\left(0,0\right)cm and (x,0)cm\left(x,0\right)cm respectively. The block of 10kg10kg is moved on the same line through a distance of 6cm6cm towards the other block. The distance through which the block of 30kg30kg must be moved to keep the position of centre of mass of the system unchanged is

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Answer: (C) 2cm2cm towards the 10kg10kg block


Initial position of centre of mass:
xCM=10(0)+30×x40=3x4{x}_{CM}=\dfrac{10\left(0\right)+30\times x}{40}=\dfrac{3x}{4}
Final position of the centre of mass:
x′CM=10(6)+30×(x−y)40=6+3(x−y)4{{x}^{'}}_{CM}=\dfrac{10\left(6\right)+30\times \left(x-y\right)}{40}=\dfrac{6+3\left(x-y\right)}{4}
As position of centre of mass remains same,

xCM=x′CM⇒3x4=6+3(x−y)4⇒3x=6+3x−3y{x}_{CM}={{x}^{'}}_{CM}\Rightarrow \dfrac{3x}{4}=\dfrac{6+3\left(x-y\right)}{4}\Rightarrow 3x=6+3x-3y ⇒y=2cm\Rightarrow y=2cm
Alternate method,
∆xCOM=m1∆x1+m2∆x2(m1+m2)⇒0=10×6+30y⇒y=−2cm∆{x}_{COM}=\dfrac{{m}_{1}∆{x}_{1}+{m}_{2}∆{x}_{2}}{\left({m}_{1}+{m}_{2}\right)}\Rightarrow 0=10\times 6+30y\Rightarrow y=-2cm

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