DIMENTIONS OF HEADER

NOTE
P H Y S I C S

CENTRE OF MASS
PCLM ALONG GRAVITATIONAL
DIRECTION

What you already know What you will learn

• Newton’s laws of motion • Examples based on centre of mass

• Centre of mass of a system of particles • PCLM along the direction of gravitational
force

Example

A girl of mass 50 kg is standing at one end of a

plank of mass 10 kg and length 20 m as shown in 50 kg
the figure. Friction is absent between the plank
and the platform. Find out the distance covered by
the plank when the girl reaches the other end of 𝜇 = 0 10 kg, 20 m
the plank.

Solution

The centre of mass of the system of (girl + plank) is

initially at rest. The friction force between the girl 50 kg
and the plank acts as an internal force, allowing
the girl to reach the other end of the plank.
Let x be the displacement of the plank with respect f f
to the ground. The distance travelled by the girl on 𝜇 = 0 10 kg, 20 m
the plank as seen from the ground is (20 – x) m.
x 20 – x
Given, m1 ∆x1 + m2 ∆x2 =
0
Mass of the girl = 50 kg
⇒ 50 ( 20 − x ) + 10 ( − x ) =
0
Mass of the plank = 10 kg
The net force on this system is zero, therefore,
⇒ 5the
(20 centre
− x ) − of
x= mass
0 of the system remains at rest.
Hence,
m1 ∆x1 + m2 ∆x2 = 0 ⇒ 100 − 5x − x = 0

⇒ 50 ( 20 − x ) + 10 ( − x ) =
0 3x
⇒ 50 =

50
⇒ 5 ( 20 − x ) − x =0 ⇒x = m
3
⇒ 100 − 5x − x =
0

3x
⇒ 50 =
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 02

Example

N.V. Sir is of mass 80 kg and Swati Madam is of mass

60 kg. Both of them are standing on the two ends
of a 10 m long boat of mass 20 kg as shown in the 80 kg 60 kg
figure. Find out the distance travelled by the boat
when both of them walk to meet in the middle of 20 kg
the boat.
10 m

Solution

Initially, the centre of mass of the system of (N.V.

Sir + Swati Madam + boat) is at rest. The friction
force between the boat and the surface of water
is assumed to be zero. The friction forces between 5+x
N.V. Sir and the boat and between Swati Madam
and the boat allow them to meet in the middle of
the boat. 80 kg 60 kg
Given, 20 kg
Mass of N.V. Sir = 80 kg 5–x x
Mass of Swati Madam = 60 kg
Mass of the boat = 20 kg x 5m 5m
Assume that the distance travelled by the boat
is x towards the negative x-axis as seen from the 5m
ground.
Therefore,
Displacement of N.V. Sir with respect to the ground = (5 − x) m
Displacement of Swati Madam with respect to the ground = −(5 + x) m
The net force on this system is zero, therefore, the centre of mass of the system remains at rest.
Hence,
m1 ∆x1 + m2 ∆x2 + m3 ∆x3 =
0

⇒ 80 (5 − x ) + 60 ( − (5 + x ) ) + 20 ( − x ) =
0

⇒ 8 ( 5 − x ) = 6 ( 5 + x ) + 2x

⇒ 40 − 8 x = 30 + 6 x + 2x
16 x
⇒ 10 =
5
⇒x =m
8

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 03

Example

A boy of mass 80 kg is standing at one end of a

boat of length 10 m and mass 20 kg. A girl of 60 kg
80 kg
is standing in the middle of the boat as shown in the 60 kg
figure. Find out the distance travelled by the boat
when the boy walks to the middle and the girl walks 20 kg
to the other end of the boat.
10 m

Solution

Initially, the centre of mass of the system of (boy

+ girl + boat) is at rest. The friction force between
the boat and the surface of water is assumed to be
zero. The friction forces between the boy and the
boat and between the girl and the boat allow them
to move inside the boat. 80 kg 60 kg
Given, 20 kg x 5 – x
Mass of the boy = 80 kg
Mass of the girl = 60 kg 5–x
Mass of the boat = 20 kg x
Assume that the distance travelled by the boat 5m
5m
is x towards the negative x-axis as seen from the
ground.
Therefore,
Displacement of the boy with respect to the ground = (5 – x) m
Displacement of the girl with respect to the ground = (5 – x) m
The net force on this system is zero, therefore, the centre of mass of the system remains at rest.
Hence,
m1 ∆x1 + m2 ∆x2 + m3 ∆x3 =0

80 (5 − x ) + 60 (5 − x ) + 20 ( − x ) =
0

⇒ 14 (5 − x ) =
2x

⇒ 70 − 14 x =
2x

16 x
⇒ 70 =
35
⇒x = m
8

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 04

Example

1 kg
A block of mass 1 kg is kept on a wedge of mass
4 kg and base 4 m as shown in the figure. Find out
the distance travelled by the wedge when the block
reaches the bottom-most point after the system is 4 kg
set free. All the surfaces are smooth.

4m

Solution

Given,
1k
Mass of the block, m1 = 1 kg g
Mass of the wedge, m2 = 4 kg
Initially, the centre of mass of the system of the
wedge and the block is at rest. The block, upon 1k
4 kg g
release, slides down the wedge due to gravity.
However, the net external force on the system in
the horizontal direction is zero and therefore, the
x 4–x
x-coordinate of the COM remains the same after the
event has taken place. 4m
Assume that the distance travelled by the wedge is x towards the negative x-axis as shown in the
figure.
Therefore,
Displacement of the block in the x-direction = (4 – x) m
Hence,
m1 ∆x1 + m2 ∆x2 =
0

⇒ 1 × (4 − x ) + 4 ( −x ) =0

⇒ 4 − x − 4x =0

4
⇒x =m
5

Example

2m
Find out the distance travelled by the ring of
mass 1 kg when the string of length 2 m becomes
vertical after the system is set free.
1 kg 2 kg

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 05

Solution MAIN

Initially, the centre of mass of the system consisting of the ring and the block is at rest as shown
in the figure. The block, upon release, proceeds to fall under the gravitational force in a circular
trajectory. The free body diagram of the system at some time after the release is shown in the
figure. The necessary centripetal force is provided by the tension in the thread and the radial
component of the gravitational force.
Given,
Mass of the ring, m1 = 1 kg
Mass of the block, m2 = 2 kg 2m
x
Assume that the distance travelled by the ring is x
towards the positive x-axis as shown in the figure.
Therefore, 2 kg
Displacement of the block in the x-direction = −(2 – x) m 1 kg
The net external force on the system in the horizontal
direction is zero, therefore, the x-coordinate of the COM
remains the same.
Hence,
m1 ∆x1 + m2∆x2 = 0
(2 – x) m
(1 × x ) + 2 × ( − (2 − x ) ) =0
2 kg
⇒ x = 4 − 2x
4
⇒ x =m
3

Example

In the last example, find out the distance travelled by the ring of mass 1 kg when the string of length
2 m makes an angle of 37° with the horizontal after the system is set free.

Solution
A x B 2m C D
Once again, assume that the ring moves in the
positive x-direction by x amount.
Difference of the x-coordinates between 37° 8 2 kg
m
the positions of the ring and the block is 1 kg 5
4 8
BC = 2 cos= 37° 2=   m 8
5 5 2–x–
2

5
m

Displacement of the block in the x-direction is 2 

=  − x m
 8 2  2k 5 
−CD = −  2 − x −  =−  − x  m g
 5 5 
Since the net external force on the system in the horizontal direction is zero, the x-coordinate of
the COM remains the same.

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 06

Hence,
m1 ∆x1 + m2∆x2 =
0

 2 
(1 × x ) + 2 ×  −  − x  =0
 5 
4
⇒x = − 2x
5
4
⇒ 3x =
5
4
⇒x = m
15

Example

Consider a bomb of mass 10 kg moving towards the 10 kg

positive x-axis with a velocity of 10 ms−1 as shown
in the figure. After some time, it explodes into two 10 ms−1
parts. Right after the explosion, a part of mass 4
kg travels at 50 ms−1 in the positive x-direction with
respect to the ground. Find the velocity of the 4 kg
6 kg
remaining part with respect to the ground. v=? 50 ms−1

Solution

Since there are no external forces acting on the bomb, the linear momentum before and after the
explosion remains the same.
Initially,
Mass of the bomb, M = 10 kg
Velocity of the bomb, v0 = 10 ms−1
After the explosion,
Mass and velocity of the first part, m1 = 4 kg, v1 = 10 ms−1
Mass of another part, m2 = M − m1 = 6 kg
Applying the conservation of linear momentum,
 
pi = p f
  
⇒ Mv0 = m1v1 + m2v2

⇒ 10 × 10 = ( 4 × 50) + ( 6v2 )

⇒ 6v2 =
− 100

50
⇒ v2 =− ms −1
3

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 07

PCLM along the Direction of Gravitational Force

In case of an explosion under gravity, the explosion time is very small and the internal forces are
much larger than the gravitational force. The impulse of the gravitational force for that time interval
can be neglected and the principle of conservation of linear momentum can be used in finding out
the masses or velocities of the particles.

Example

y
100 ms −1

1
A bomb bursts into three parts of equal masses

as shown in the figure. Find the velocity ( v3 ) of the
100 ms−1
third part. x
2
 3
v3

Solution

Given,
Mass of each part = m (say)
Velocity of part 1, v1 = 100 ms−1 (along the positive y-axis)
Velocity of part 2, v2 = 100 ms−1 (along the positive x-axis)
The principle of conservation of linear momentum can be used to find out the velocity of the third
part.
Along the x-direction,
( p f ) = ( pi )x
x

m1v x1 + m2v x2 + m3v x3 =

0

⇒ ( m × 0) + ( m × 100) + mv x3 =
0
m
⇒ v x3 =
− 100 ms −1 100 ms−1

Along the y -direction,


( p ) = ( p )
f y i y
v3

m1v y1 + m2v y2 + m3v y3 =

0
100 2 ms−1 100 ms−1
⇒ ( m × 100) + ( m × 0) + mv y3 =
0

⇒ v y3 =
− 100 ms −1

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 08

Hence, the velocity of the third part is,


v3 v x3 iˆ + v y3 ˆj
=

− 100 iˆ − 100 ˆj
=

Or,

(
− 100 iˆ + ˆj ms −1
v3 = )

v3 = 100 2 ms −1

Angle made by velocity with the x -axis,

 vy 
θ 180° + tan −1  3
= 
 vx 
 3 
 −100 
= 180° + tan −1  
 −100 
= 180° + tan −1 (1)

θ 225°
=

Example

y
3v m
1 4
A bomb of mass m bursts into three parts as shown
 2
in the figure. Find the velocity ( v3 ) of the third part. 5v
x
3 m

v3 2

Solution

Given,
m
Mass of part 1, m1 =
4
Velocity of part 1, v1 = 3v (along the positive y-axis)
m
Mass of part 2, m2 =
2
Velocity of part 2, v2 = 5v (along the positive x-axis)
 m m m
Mass of part 3, m3 =  m − − =
 4 2 4

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 09

Along the x-direction

( p f ) = ( pi )x
x

m1v x1 + m2v x2 + m3v x3 =

0

m  m  m
⇒  × 0  +  × 5v  + v x3 =
0
4  2  4
v x3 5v
⇒ =
−
4 2
⇒ v x3 =
− 10v
10v
Along the y -direction,
θ
( p f ) = ( pi ) y
y

m1v y1 + m2v y2 + m3v y3 =

0

m  m  m
⇒  × 3v  +  × 0  + v y3 =
0  109v
4  2  4 v3 3v

v y3 3v
⇒ =
−
4 4
⇒ v y3 =
− 3v

∴ v3 = v x3 iˆ + v y3 ˆj

− 10v iˆ − 3v ˆj
=
Or,

(
− v 10 iˆ + 3 ˆj ms −1
v3 = )

v3 = 109 v ms −1

Angle made by velocity with the x -axis,

 −3v 
θ 180° + tan −1 
= 
 −10v 

 3 
= 180° + tan −1  
 10 
θ ≈ 197°

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