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Center of Mass & Collision Rg-CM & C-XI-13

Previous Years IIT-JEE Questions

PART –A: OBJECTIVE TYPE

1. Two small particles of equal masses start moving in opposite directions from
a point A in a horizontal circular orbit. Their tangential velocities are  and
2 , respectively, as shown in the figure. Between collisions, the particles
move with constant speeds. After making how many elastic collisions, other
than that at A, these two particles will again reach the point A?
[2009]

(a) 4 (b) 3 (c) 2 (d) 1

2. Look at the drawing given in the figure which has been drawn with ink of
uniform line-thickness. The mass of ink used to draw each of the two inner
circles, and each of the two line segments is m . The mass of the ink used
to draw the outer circle is 6 m . The coordinates of the centres of the
different parts are; outer circle  0,0  , left inner circle  a, a  , right inner
circle  a, a  ,vertical line  0, 0  and horizontal line  0, a  . The y-
coordinate of the centre of mass of the ink in this drawing is: [2009]

a a a a
(a) (b) (c) (d)
10 8 12 3

3. If the resultant of all the external forces acting on a system of particles is zero, then from an inertial
frame, one can surely say that: [2009]
(a) linear momentum of the system does not change in time
(b) kinetic energy of the system does not change in time
(c) angular momentum of the system does not
(d) potential energy of the system does not change in time

4. Two blocks of masses 10kg and 4 kg are connected by a spring of negligible mass and placed on a
frictionless horizontal surface. An impulse gives a velocity of 14 m s to the heavier block in the
direction of the lighter block. The velocity of the centre of mass is: [2002]
(a) 30 m s (b) 20 m s (c)10 m s (d) 5 m s

5. Two particles of masses m1 and m2 , in projectile motions, have velocities 1   2 respectively at

 
time t  0 . They collide at time t0 . Their velocities become 1' and 2' at time 2t0 while moving in
 '  
  
air. The value of m11'  m2 2  m11  m2 2 is:  [2001]

1
(a) zero (b)  m1  m2  gt0 (c) 2  m1  m2  gt0
 m1  m2  gt0
(d)
2
6. An isolated particle of mass m is moving in horizontal plane  x  y  along the x  axis at a certain
height above the ground. It suddenly explodes into two fragments of masses m 4 and 3 m 4 . An
instant later, the smaller fragment is at y  15 cm . The larger fragment at this instant is at: [ 1997]

(a) y  5cm (b) y  20 cm (c) y  5cm (d) y  20 cm

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7. A shell is fired from a cannon with a velocity   m sec  at an angle  with the horizontal direction.
At the highest point in its path it explodes into two pieces of equal mass. One of the pieces retraces
its path to the cannon. The speed  in m sec  of the other piece immediately after the explosion is:
[1986]
3 3
(a) 3 cos  (b) 2 cos  (c)  cos  (d)  cos 
2 2

8. Two particles A and B, initially at rest, move towards each other under mutual force of attraction. At
the instant when the speed of A is  and the speed of B is 2 , the speed of the centre of mass of the
system is: [1982]

(a) 3 (b)  (c) 1.5 (d) zero

9. A ball of 0.2 kg rests on a vertical post of height 5 m. A bullet of mass

0.01 kg travelling with a velocity v m/s in a horizontal direction, hits the
centre of the ball. After the collision, the ball and bullet travel
independently. The ball hits the ground at a distance of 20 m and the
bullet at a distance of 100 m from the foot of the post. The velocity
v of the bullet is [2011]

(a) 250 m/s (b) 250 √2 m/s (c) 400 m/s (d) 500 m/s

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS WITH MORE THAN ONE CORRECT ANSWER

1. A point mass of 1 kg collides elastically with a stationary point mass of 5 kg. After their collision,
the 1 kg mass reverses its direction and moves with a speed of 2 m/s. Which of the following
statement(s) is (are) correct for the system of two point masses ? [2010]

(a) Total linear momentum of the system is 3 kg-m/s

(b) Linear momentum of 5 kg mass after collision is 4 kg-m/sec

(c) Kinetic energy of the centre of mass is 0.75 J

(d) Total kinetic energy of the system is 4 J

 
2. Two balls, having linear momenta p1  p iˆ and p 2   p iˆ , undergo a collision in free space. There is
 
no external force acting on the balls. Let p1 and p 2 be their final momenta. The following option(s)
is/ are NOT ALLOWED for any non-zero value of p, a2 , a2 , b1, b 2 , c1 and c2 : [2008]
 
(a) p1'  a1iˆ  b1 ˆj  c1kˆ (b) p1'  c1kˆ
 
p2'  a2iˆ  b2 ˆj p2'  c2 kˆ

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
Rg-CM & C-XI-13
(c) p1'  a1iˆ  b1 ˆj  c1kˆ (d) p1'  a1iˆ  b1 ˆj

p2'  a2iˆ  b2 ˆj  c1kˆ p2’ = a2i +b1 j

3. Two blocks A and B, each of mass m , are connected by a massless spring of natural length L and
spring constant k . The blocks are initially resting on a smooth horizontal floor with the spring at its
natural length , as shown in figure. A third identical block C , also of mass m , moves on the floor
with a speed  along the line joining A and B , and collides elastically with A. Then: [1993]

(a) the kinetic energy of the A  B system , at maximum compression of the spring, is zero

(b) the kinetic energy of the A  B system, at maximum compression of the spring, is m 2 4

(c) the maximum compression of the spring  m k

(d) the maximum compression of the spring  m 2k 

4. A ball hits the floor and rebounds after an inelastic collision. In this case: [1986]
(a) the momentum of the ball just after the collision is the same as that just before the collision
(b) the mechanical energy of the ball remains the same in the collision
(c) the total momentum of the ball and the earth is conserved
(d) the total energy of the ball and the earth is conserved

FILL IN THE BLANKS

1. The magnitude of the force (in newton) acting on a body varies with time t (in microsecond) as
shown in the figure. AB, BC and CD are straight line segments. The magnitude of the total impulse of
the force on the body from t  4  s to t  16  s is……………… N  s [1994]

2. A particle of mass 4m which is at rest explodes into three fragments. Two of the fragments each of
mass m are found to move with a speed  each in mutually perpendicular directions. The total
energy released in the process of explosion is…………….. [1987]

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TRUE/ FALSE TYPE

1. Two particles of mass 1kg and 3kg move towards each other under their mutual force of attraction.
No other force acts on them. When the relative velocity of approach of the two particles is 2 m s ,
their centre of mass has a velocity of 0.5 m s . When the relative velocity of approach becomes
3m s , the velocity of the centre of mass is 0.75m s [1989]

ASSERTION-REASON TYPE QUESTIONS

Instructions: The following questions Statement-1 (assertion) and Satement-2 (reason) of these Statements,

mark correct choice if

(a) Statements-1 and 2 are true and Statement-2 is a correct explanation for Statement -1

(b) Statements-1and 2 are true and Statement-2 is not a correct explanation for Statement-1

(c) Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is false

(d) Statement-1 is false, Statement -2 is true

1. Statement-1: If there is no external torque on a body about its centre of mass, then the velocity of
the centre of mass remains constant.

Statement-2:The linear momentum of an isolated system remains constant. [2007]

PART – B: IITJEE ( SUBJECTIVE )

1. Three objects A, B and C are kept in a straight line on a

frictionless horizontal surface. These have masses m, 2m and m ,
respectively. The object A moves towards B with a speed
9 m s and makes an elastic collision with it. Thereafter, B makes
completely inelastic collision with C . All motions occur on the same straight line. Find the final
speed  in m s  of the object C . [2009]

2. Two masses m1 and m2 are connected by a light spring of natural length l0 which is compressed
completely and tied by a string. This system while moving with a velocity 0 along ve x  axis
passes through the origin at t  0 . At this position the string snaps. Position of mass m1 at time t is
given by the equation x1  t   0t  A 1  cos t  . Calculate: [2003]

(a) position of the particle m2 as a function of time

(b) l0 in terms of A

3. A particle of mass m , moving in a circular path of radius R with a

constant speed  2 is located at point  2R, 0  at time t  0 and a
man starts moving with a velocity 1 along the ve y  axis from
origin at time t  0 . Calculate the linear momentum of the particle
with respect to the man as a function of time. [2003]

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4. A car P is moving with a uniform speed of 5 3 m s towards a carriage of mass 9 kg at rest kept on
the rails at a point B as shown in figure. The height AC is
120 m . Cannon balls of mass 1kg are fired from the car with an
initial velocity 100m s at an angle 30 with the horizontal. The
first cannon ball hits the stationary carriage after a time t0 and
sticks to it. Determine t0 . At t0 , the second cannon ball is fired. Assume that the resistive force
between the rails and the carriage is constant and ignore the vertical motion of the carriage
throughout. If the second ball also hits and sticks to the carriage, what will be the horizontal velocity
of the carriage just after the second impact? [2001]

5. Two blocks of mass 2 kg and M are at rest on an inclined plane and are
separated by a distance of 6.0 m as shown in figure. The coefficient of
friction between each of the blocks and the inclined plane is 0.25 .The 2
kg blocks is given a velocity of 10.0 m/s up the inclined plane. It collides
with M , comes back and has a velocity of 1.0 m s when it reaches its
initial position. The other block M after the collision moves 0.5 m up and
comes to rest. Calculate the coefficient of restitution between the blocks and the mass of the block
M . Take sin   tan   0.05 and g  10 m s 2  [1999]
 

6. A cart is moving along x direction with a velocity of 4 m/s. A person on the cart throws a stone with
a velocity of 6 m/s relative to himself. In the frame of reference of the cart the stone is thrown in y-z
plane making an angle of 300with vertical z axis. At the highest point of its trajectory the stone hits
an object of equal mass hung vertically from branch of a tree by means of a string of length L.A
completely inelastic collision occurs in which the stone gets embedded in the object. Determine :
(i) The speed of the combined mass immediately after the collision with respect to an observer on the
ground.
(ii) The length L of the string such that the tension in the string becomes zero when the string
becomes horizontal during the subsequent motion of the combined mass. [1997]

7. A small sphere of radius R is held against the inner surface of a larger sphere
y
of radius 6R . The masses of the large and small spheres are 4M and M
respectively. This arrangement is placed on a horizontal table. There is no
friction between any surfaces of contact. The small sphere is now released . 6R
R
Find the coordinates of the centre of the larger sphere when the smaller O (L, 0) M x
sphere reaches the other extreme position. [1996] 4M

8. 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.
(a) What is the path, followed by the centre of mass of the rod, during its fall?
(b) Find the equation of the trajectory of a point on the rod, located at a distance r , from the lower
end. What is the shape of the path of this point? [1993]

9. A cylindrical solid of mass 102 kg and cross-sectional area 104 m 2 is moving parallel to its axis
(the x  axis )with a uniform speed of 103 m s in the positive direction. At t  0 , its front face passes
the plane x  0 . The region to the right of this plane is filled with dust particle of uniform density

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103 kg m3 . When a dust particle collides with the face of the cylinder, it sticks to its surface.
Assuming that the dimensions of the cylinder remain practically unchanged and that the dust sticks
only to the front face of the cylinder. Find the x  coordinates of the front of the cylinder at
t  150 s . [1993]

10. A block A of mass 2m is placed on another block B of mass 4m which in turn is placed on a fixed
table. The two blocks have same length 4d and they are
placed as shown in fig. The coefficient of friction (both
static and kinetic) between the block B and table is  .
There is no friction between the two blocks. A small object
of mass m moving horizontally along a line passing through
the centre of mass  COM  of the block B and perpendicular
to its face with a speed  collides elastically with the block
B at a height d above the table.
(a) What is the minimum value of  (call it 0 ) required to make the block A topple?
(b) If   20 , find the distance (from the point P in the figure) at which the mass m falls on the
table after collision. (Ignore the role of friction during the collision) [1991]

11. An object of mass 5 kg is projected with a velocity of 20 m s at an angle of 60 to the horizontal. At
the highest point of its path the projectile explodes and breaks up into two fragments of masses
1kg and 4 kg . The fragments separate horizontally after the explosion. The explosion releases
internal energy such that the kinetic energy of the system at the highest point is doubled .Calculate
the separation between the two fragments when they reach the ground.
[1990]
12. A bullet of mass M is fired with a velocity 50 m s at an angle  with the horizontal. At the highest
point of its trajectory , it collides head-on with a bob of mass 3M suspended by a massless string of
length 10 3 metre and gets embedded in the bob. After the collision, the string swings through an
angle of 120 . Find: [1988]
(i) the angle  :
(ii) the vertical and horizontal coordinates of the initial position of the bob with respect to the point
of firing of the bullet. Take g  9.8 m s 2 .

13. A simple pendulum is suspended from a peg on a vertical wall. The pendulum is
pulled away from the wall to a horizontal position (see fig) and released. The
2
ball hits the wall, the coefficient of restitution being . What is the minimum
5
number of collision after which the amplitude of oscillations becomes less than
60 degree? [1987]

14. A ball of mass 100 g is projected vertically upwards from the ground with a velocity of 49 m sec .At
the same time another identical ball is dropped from a height of 98m to fall freely along the same
path as that followed by the first ball. After some time the two balls collide and stick together and
finally fall to the ground. Find the time of flight of the masses. [1985]

15. Two bodies A and B of masses m and 2m respectively are placed on a smooth floor. They are
connected by a spring.

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A third body C of mass m moves with velocity 0 along the line joining A and B and collides
elastically with A as shown in fig. At a certain instant of time t0 after collision, it is found that the
instantaneous velocities of A and B are the same. Further at this instant the compression of the spring
is found to be x0 . Determine:
(i) the common velocity of A and B at time t0 and (ii) the spring constant [1984]

16. A block of mass M , with a semicircular track of radius R , rests on a

horizontal frictionless surface. A uniform cylinder of radius r and
mass m is released from rest at the top point A , as shown in figure.
The cylinder slips on the semicircular frictionless track. How far has
the block moves when the cylinder reaches the bottom (point B) of the
track? How fast is the block moving when the cylinder reaches the
bottom of the track? [1983]

17. Three particles A, B and C of equal mass move with equal speed  along the
medians of an equilateral triangle as shown in fig. They collides at the centroid of
the triangle. After the collision, A comes to rest, B retraces its path with the speed
 . What is the velocity of C? [1982]

18. A body of mass 1kg , initially at rest, explodes and breaks into three fragments of
masses in the ratio 1:1: 3 . The two pieces of equal mass fly off perpendicular to each other with a
speed of 30 m sec each. What is the velocity of the heavier fragment? [1981]

19. A circular plate of uniform thickness has a diameter of 56 cm. A circular portion of diameter 42 cm
is removed from one edge of the plate as shown in the figure. Find the position of the centre of mass
of the remaining portion. [1980]

42 cm
56 cm

20. A 20 g bullet pierces through a plate of mass M1  1 kg and then comes to

rest inside a second plate of mass M 2  2.98 kg as shown in the figure. It is
found that the two plates initially at rest, now move with equal velocities.
Find the percentage loss in the initial velocity of the bullet when it is
between M1 and M 2 . Neglect any loss of material of the plates due to the action of bullet.
[1979]

21. When a ball is thrown up, the magnitude of its momentum decreases and then increases. Does this
violate the conservation of momentum principle? [1979]
22. A body of mass m moving with a velocity  in the x  direction collides with another body of mass
M moving in the y  direction with a velocity V . They coalesce into one body during collision.
Find: [1978]
(a) the direction and magnitude of the momentum of the composite body.
(b) the fraction of the initial kinetic energy transformed into heat during the collision.

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23. A block of mass 0.18 kg is attached to a spring of force constant 2 N/m.The coefficient of friction
between the block and the floor is 0.1.Initially the block is at rest and spring is unstretched. An
impulse is given to the block as shown in the figure. The block slides a distance of 0.6 m and comes
to rest for the first time. The initial velocity of the block in m/s is v = N/10. Find the value of N.
[2011]

24. A wedge of mass m with triangular cross-section ( AB=CB=CA=2R) is moving with a constant
velocity –V i towards a sphere of radius R fixed on a smooth horizontal table as shown in the figure.
The wedge makes an elastic collision with the fixed sphere and returns along the same path without
any rotation. Neglect all friction and suppose that the wedge remains in contact with the sphere for a
very short time Δt during which the sphere exerts a constant force F on the wedge. [1998]
(a) Find the force F and also the normal force N exerted by the table on the wedge.

(b) Let h denote the perpendicular distance between the centre of mass of the wedge and the line of
action of F. Find the magnitude of the torque due to the normal force N about the centre of the
wedge during the interval Δt.

25. There is a rectangular plate of mass M kg of dimensions ( a x b). The plate is held in horizontal
position by striking n small balls each of mass m per unit area per unit time. These are striking in the
shaded right half region of the plate. The balls are colliding elastically with velocity v. What is v ?

Given that n = 100, M = 3 kg, m = 0.01 kg, b = 2 m, a = 1 m , g = 10m/s2 [2006]

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