Question: A non uniform thin rod of length Lis placed along x−¿ axis as such its one of ends

at the
origin the linear mass density of rod is λ=λ 0 x . The distance of centre of mass of rod from the origin is:

A. L/2
B. 2 L/3
C. L/ 4
D. L/5

Solution: Hint: - To find the centre of mass divide the mean of the product of masses and their position
with the total mass.

Step by step solution:

 Let a non- uniform thin rod of length L is placed along the x axis such that its one end is at the
origin as shown in the figure below.

X’ X

O L

 It is given that the linear mass density of rod,

λ=λ 0 x
⇒ The total mass of rod,
M=
L

∫ λ0 x . dx
0

M=
2
λ0 L
2

 So, the mass at any point on the x−¿ axis for any differential element dx will be,
dm= λ . dx
dm= λ0 . x . dx
 Since, the rod is thin along the x−¿ axis, we assume that the centre of mass lies on the axis of
the rod (or x−¿ axis). Thus, the distance of the centre of mass of the rod from the origin is given
by,
C.M. (Centre of mass) =
L L
1 1
∫
M 0
x . dm¿ ∫ λ0 x dx
M 0
2
 L
2 λ0
¿
λ0 L2∫ 2
x . dx
0
3
2 L
¿ .
L2 3
2L
¿
3
 Hence, the centre if mass of the rod is at a distance of 2 L/3 units from the origin along x−¿
axis.
 Thus, option B is correct.

Note: You cannot multiply the linear mass density with total length L to obtain the mass M of the
rod. Because, here the linear mass density is a function of distance, so there will be integration of
every differential mass over the length L to obtain the total mass M of the rod.