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System of Particles and Rotational Motion

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CBSE Gujarat Board Haryana Board

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Class 10 Class 12

A ‘T’ shaped object with dimensions shown in the figure, is lying on a smooth floor. A force F is applied at the point P parallel to AB, such that the object has only the translational motion without rotation. Find the location of P with respect to C

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C.

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The point P must be the centre of mass of the T-shaped object since the force F does not produce any rotational motion of the object. So, we have to find the distance of the centre of mass from the point C.

The horizontal part of the T-shaped object has length L. If the mass of the horizontal portion is ‘m’, the mass of the vertical portion of the T- shaped object is 2m since its length is 2L. For finding the centre of mass of the T shaped object, it is enough to consider two point masses m and 2m located respectively at the midpoints of the horizontal and vertical portions of the T.

Therefore, the T-shaped object reduces to two point masses m and 2m at distances 2L and L respectively from the point C. The distance ‘r’ of the centre of mass of the system from the point C is given by

r = (m1r1 + m2r2)/(m1 + m2) = (m×2L + 2m×L)/(m + 2m) = 4L/3

[ Note that we have used the equation, r = (m1r1 + m2r2)/(m1 + m2) for the position vector r of the centre of mass in terms of the position vectors r1 and r2 of the point masses m1 and m2. We could use the simple equation involving the distances from C since the points are collinear].

The point P must be the centre of mass of the T-shaped object since the force F does not produce any rotational motion of the object. So, we have to find the distance of the centre of mass from the point C.

The horizontal part of the T-shaped object has length L. If the mass of the horizontal portion is ‘m’, the mass of the vertical portion of the T- shaped object is 2m since its length is 2L. For finding the centre of mass of the T shaped object, it is enough to consider two point masses m and 2m located respectively at the midpoints of the horizontal and vertical portions of the T.

Therefore, the T-shaped object reduces to two point masses m and 2m at distances 2L and L respectively from the point C. The distance ‘r’ of the centre of mass of the system from the point C is given by

r = (m1r1 + m2r2)/(m1 + m2) = (m×2L + 2m×L)/(m + 2m) = 4L/3

[ Note that we have used the equation, r = (m1r1 + m2r2)/(m1 + m2) for the position vector r of the centre of mass in terms of the position vectors r1 and r2 of the point masses m1 and m2. We could use the simple equation involving the distances from C since the points are collinear].

1691 Views

Is it necessary for centre of mass to lie within the body?

No, centre of mass needs not to lie within the body. It is not necessary that the total mass of the system be actually present at the centre.

The position of the centre of mass is calculated using the usual Newtonian type of equations of motion.
943 Views

What is the need of centre of mass?

Newton’s second law of motion is strictly applicable to point masses only. To apply the Newton's law of motion to rigid bodies, the concept of centre of mass is introduced.

The concept of centre of mass of a system enables us to discuss overall motion of the system by replacing the system by an equivalent single point object.
911 Views

What is the significance of defining the center of mass of a system?

The motion of n particle system can be reduced to one particle motion.

An equivalent single point object would enable us to discuss the overall motion of the system.
794 Views

Define centre of mass.

Centre of mass of a body or a system of bodies is a point at which the entire mass of the body or system is supposed to be concentrated.
1449 Views

Is it necessary that there should be matter at the centre of mass of system?

No, it is not necessary that there be matter at the centre of mass of the system.

For e.g., if two equal point masses are separated by certain distance, the centre of mass lies at the mid point of two point masses and there is no mass at that point.
730 Views