CBSE · NCERT · Class 11 Physics · Chapter 6

NCERT Solutions: Class 11 Physics Chapter 6 - Systems of Particles and Rotational Motion

17 textbook Q&A17 verifiedFree Content

Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Systems of Particles and Rotational Motion, grounded in the official textbook.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT textbook; answers were grounded against the chapter's content during generation. Items needing review are marked.
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Exercises 17
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1Exercises17 questions
Q.6.1Give the location of the centre of mass of a (i) sphere, (ii) cylinder, (iii) ring, and (iv) cube, each of uniform mass density. Does the centre of mass of a body necessarily lie inside the body ?v
Solution

For a body of uniform mass density and symmetry, the centre of mass coincides with the geometrical centre by symmetry. A ring is an example where this point is inside the empty central region rather than in the material itself.

Answer:

For a uniform sphere, cylinder, ring and cube, the centre of mass is at the geometrical centre. The centre of mass need not necessarily lie inside the material of the body; for a ring it lies at the centre, where there is no material.

Q.6.2In the HCl molecule, the separation between the nuclei of the two atoms is about 1.27 Å (1 Å = 10-10 m). Find the approximate location of the CM of the molecule, given that a chlorine atom is about 35.5 times as massive as a hydrogen atom and nearly all the mass of an atom is concentrated in its nucleus.v
Solution

Take the hydrogen nucleus at $x=0$ and chlorine at $x=1.27\,\text{Å}$. If $m_H=m$, then $m_{Cl}=35.5m$. Thus $x_{CM}=\frac{m(0)+35.5m(1.27)}{36.5m}=1.235\,\text{Å}$ from hydrogen. Its distance from chlorine is $1.27-1.235=0.035\,\text{Å}$.

Answer:

The centre of mass is about $1.24\,\text{Å}$ from the hydrogen nucleus, or about $0.035\,\text{Å}$ from the chlorine nucleus towards hydrogen.

Q.6.3A child sits stationary at one end of a long trolley moving uniformly with a speed V on a smooth horizontal floor. If the child gets up and runs about on the trolley in any manner, what is the speed of the CM of the (trolley + child) system ?v
Solution

The floor is smooth, so there is no external horizontal force on the trolley-child system. Internal forces between the child and trolley cannot change the velocity of the centre of mass. Therefore the centre of mass keeps its original uniform speed $V$.

Answer:

The centre of mass continues to move with speed $V$.

Q.6.4Show that the area of the triangle contained between the vectors a and b is one half of the magnitude of a × b.v
Solution

If $\theta$ is the angle between $\vec a$ and $\vec b$, the parallelogram formed by them has area $ab\sin\theta=|\vec a\times\vec b|$. The triangle formed by the same two sides is half of this parallelogram, so its area is $\frac12|\vec a\times\vec b|$.

Answer:

The area is $\frac12|\vec a\times\vec b|$.

Q.6.5Show that a.(b × c) is equal in magnitude to the volume of the parallelepiped formed on the three vectors , a, b and c.v
Solution

$|\vec b\times\vec c|$ is the area of the base parallelogram formed by $\vec b$ and $\vec c$. The component of $\vec a$ perpendicular to this base is the height. Therefore volume $=$ base area $\times$ height $=|\vec a\cdot(\vec b\times\vec c)|$.

Answer:

The volume is $|\vec a\cdot(\vec b\times\vec c)|$.

Q.6.6Find the components along the x, y, z axes of the angular momentum l of a particle, whose position vector is r with components x, y, z and momentum is p with components px, py and pz. Show that if the particle moves only in the x-y plane the angular momentum has only a z-component.v
Solution

Angular momentum is $\vec l=\vec r\times\vec p$. Expanding the determinant gives $\vec l=(yp_z-zp_y)\hat i+(zp_x-xp_z)\hat j+(xp_y-yp_x)\hat k$. For motion in the $x-y$ plane, $z=0$ and $p_z=0$, hence $l_x=l_y=0$ and $\vec l=(xp_y-yp_x)\hat k$.

Answer:

$l_x=yp_z-zp_y$, $l_y=zp_x-xp_z$, $l_z=xp_y-yp_x$. If motion is confined to the $x-y$ plane, then $z=0$ and $p_z=0$, so only $l_z$ remains.

Q.6.7Two particles, each of mass m and speed v, travel in opposite directions along parallel lines separated by a distance d. Show that the angular momentum vector of the two particle system is the same whatever be the point about which the angular momentum is taken.v
Solution

The total linear momentum of the two-particle system is zero because the particles have equal and opposite momenta. If the origin is shifted by $\vec a$, total angular momentum changes by $-\vec a\times\vec P_{total}$, which is zero. Hence it is the same about every point. Taking an origin on one line, only the other particle contributes a perpendicular lever arm $d$, giving magnitude $mvd$ with direction normal to the plane of motion.

Answer:

The angular momentum is independent of origin and has magnitude $mvd$.

Q.6.8A non-uniform bar of weight W is suspended at rest by two strings of negligible weight as shown in Fig.6.33. The angles made by the strings with the vertical are 36.9° and 53.1° respectively. The bar is 2 m long. Calculate the distance d of the centre of gravity of the bar from its left end.v
Solution

Let the left and right tensions be $T_1$ and $T_2$. Horizontal equilibrium gives $T_1\sin36.9^\circ=T_2\sin53.1^\circ$, so $0.6T_1=0.8T_2$ and $T_2=0.75T_1$. Vertical equilibrium gives $T_1\cos36.9^\circ+T_2\cos53.1^\circ=W$, so $0.8T_1+0.6T_2=W$. Hence $T_1=0.8W$ and $T_2=0.6W$. Taking moments about the left end, $(T_2\cos53.1^\circ)(2)=Wd$. Therefore $d=(0.6W\times0.6\times2)/W=0.72\,\text{m}$.

Answer:

$d=0.72\,\text{m}$ from the left end.

Q.6.9A car weighs 1800 kg. The distance between its front and back axles is 1.8 m. Its centre of gravity is 1.05 m behind the front axle. Determine the force exerted by the level ground on each front wheel and each back wheel.v
Solution

Treating 1800 kg as the car's mass, its weight is $W=1800\times9.8=17640\,\text{N}$. Let total front and rear reactions be $R_f$ and $R_r$. Then $R_f+R_r=W$. Taking moments about the front axle, $R_r(1.8)=W(1.05)$, so $R_r=10290\,\text{N}$. Thus each rear wheel supports $5145\,\text{N}$. The front reaction is $R_f=17640-10290=7350\,\text{N}$, so each front wheel supports $3675\,\text{N}$.

Answer:

Each front wheel: about $3.68\times10^3\,\text{N}$. Each back wheel: about $5.15\times10^3\,\text{N}$.

Q.6.10Torques of equal magnitude are applied to a hollow cylinder and a solid sphere, both having the same mass and radius. The cylinder is free to rotate about its standard axis of symmetry, and the sphere is free to rotate about an axis passing through its centre. Which of the two will acquire a greater angular speed after a given time.v
Solution

For the hollow cylinder about its symmetry axis, $I=MR^2$. For the solid sphere about a diameter, $I=\frac25MR^2$. With the same torque, angular acceleration is $\alpha=\tau/I$. Since the sphere has the smaller moment of inertia, it has the larger angular acceleration and hence the greater angular speed after the same time.

Answer:

The solid sphere will acquire the greater angular speed.

Q.6.11A solid cylinder of mass 20 kg rotates about its axis with angular speed 100 rad s-1. The radius of the cylinder is 0.25 m. What is the kinetic energy associated with the rotation of the cylinder? What is the magnitude of angular momentum of the cylinder about its axis?v
Solution

For a solid cylinder about its axis, $I=\frac12MR^2=\frac12(20)(0.25)^2=0.625\,\text{kg m}^2$. Rotational kinetic energy is $K=\frac12I\omega^2=\frac12(0.625)(100)^2=3125\,\text{J}$. Angular momentum is $L=I\omega=0.625\times100=62.5\,\text{kg m}^2\text{s}^{-1}$.

Answer:

Rotational kinetic energy is $3.125\times10^3\,\text{J}$. Angular momentum is $62.5\,\text{kg m}^2\text{s}^{-1}$.

Q.6.12(a) A child stands at the centre of a turntable with his two arms outstretched. The turntable is set rotating with an angular speed of 40 rev/min. How much is the angular speed of the child if he folds his hands back and thereby reduces his moment of inertia to 2/5 times the initial value ? Assume that the turntable rotates without friction. (b) Show that the child’s new kinetic energy of rotation is more than the initial kinetic energy of rotation. How do you account for this increase in kinetic energy?v
Solution

With no external torque, $I\omega$ is conserved. If $I_2=(2/5)I_1$, then $I_1\omega_1=I_2\omega_2$, so $\omega_2=(5/2)\omega_1=(5/2)(40)=100\,\text{rev/min}$. Since $K=L^2/(2I)$ for fixed angular momentum, reducing $I$ to $2I_1/5$ increases kinetic energy by a factor $I_1/I_2=5/2$. The extra energy is supplied by the child's internal muscular work while pulling the arms inward.

Answer:

(a) $100\,\text{rev/min}$. (b) The new kinetic energy is $5/2$ times the initial kinetic energy; the increase comes from work done by the child in folding the arms inward.

Q.6.13A rope of negligible mass is wound round a hollow cylinder of mass 3 kg and radius 40 cm. What is the angular acceleration of the cylinder if the rope is pulled with a force of 30 N ? What is the linear acceleration of the rope ? Assume that there is no slipping.v
Solution

For a hollow cylinder, $I=MR^2=3(0.40)^2=0.48\,\text{kg m}^2$. Torque due to the pull is $\tau=FR=30(0.40)=12\,\text{N m}$. Hence $\alpha=\tau/I=12/0.48=25\,\text{rad s}^{-2}$. With no slipping, rope acceleration is $a=\alpha R=25(0.40)=10\,\text{m s}^{-2}$.

Answer:

Angular acceleration is $25\,\text{rad s}^{-2}$. Linear acceleration of the rope is $10\,\text{m s}^{-2}$.

Q.6.14To maintain a rotor at a uniform angular speed of 200 rad s-1, an engine needs to transmit a torque of 180 N m. What is the power required by the engine ? (Note: uniform angular velocity in the absence of friction implies zero torque. In practice, applied torque is needed to counter frictional torque). Assume that the engine is 100% efficient.v
Solution

Power in rotational motion is $P=\tau\omega$. Thus $P=180\times200=36000\,\text{W}=36\,\text{kW}$.

Answer:

$3.6\times10^4\,\text{W}$, or $36\,\text{kW}$.

Q.6.15From a uniform disk of radius R, a circular hole of radius R/2 is cut out. The centre of the hole is at R/2 from the centre of the original disc. Locate the centre of gravity of the resulting flat body.v
Solution

Let the original disc have mass $M$ and centre at $x=0$. The removed disc has radius $R/2$, so its mass is $M/4$, and its centre is at $x=R/2$. Treat the removed part as negative mass. The remaining mass is $3M/4$ and its centre is $x_{CM}=\frac{M(0)-(M/4)(R/2)}{3M/4}=-R/6$. The minus sign shows the centre lies opposite the hole.

Answer:

The centre of gravity is at a distance $R/6$ from the original centre, on the side opposite to the hole.

Q.6.16A metre stick is balanced on a knife edge at its centre. When two coins, each of mass 5 g are put one on top of the other at the 12.0 cm mark, the stick is found to be balanced at 45.0 cm. What is the mass of the metre stick?v
Solution

The stick's weight acts at its centre, the 50 cm mark. The two coins have total mass $10\,\text{g}$ at the 12 cm mark. Taking moments about the new balance point at 45 cm: $M(50-45)=10(45-12)$. Therefore $5M=330$, so $M=66\,\text{g}$.

Answer:

$66\,\text{g}$.

Q.6.17The oxygen molecule has a mass of 5.30 × 10-26 kg and a moment of inertia of 1.94 ×10-46 kg m2 about an axis through its centre perpendicular to the lines joining the two atoms. Suppose the mean speed of such a molecule in a gas is 500 m/s and that its kinetic energy of rotation is two thirds of its kinetic energy of translation. Find the average angular velocity of the molecule.v
Solution

Given $K_{rot}=\frac23K_{trans}$. Thus $\frac12I\omega^2=\frac23\left(\frac12Mv^2\right)$, so $\omega=\sqrt{\frac{(2/3)Mv^2}{I}}$. Substituting $M=5.30\times10^{-26}\,\text{kg}$, $v=500\,\text{m s}^{-1}$ and $I=1.94\times10^{-46}\,\text{kg m}^2$, $\omega=\sqrt{\frac{(2/3)(5.30\times10^{-26})(500)^2}{1.94\times10^{-46}}}=6.75\times10^{12}\,\text{rad s}^{-1}$.

Answer:

$6.75\times10^{12}\,\text{rad s}^{-1}$.