NEET Revision notes

Physics
System of particles and rotational motion

Rigid body:
● A rigid body is one in which the distances between different particles of
the body do not change even though forces are acting on them.
● Axis of rotation: The line along which the body is fixed is known as the
axis of rotation. Examples for rotation about an axis are a ceiling fan and a
merry-go-round etc.
● In pure rotation of a rigid body about a fixed axis, every particle of the rigid
body moves in a circle which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis and
has its centre on the axis. Every point in the rotating rigid body has the
same angular velocity at any time.

Image: Linkage of a rigid body

Centre of mass:
● The centre of mass of a body is a point where the entire mass of the body
can be supposed to be concentrated. The nature of motion executed by the
body shall remain unaffected if all the forces acting on the body were
applied directly at this point.
● For a system of two particles of masses m1 and m2 having their position
vector has r1 and r2 respectively, with respect to origin of the coordinate
system, the position vector RCM of the centre of mass is given by
m1r1  m2 r2
RCM 
m1  m2

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 r1  r2
If m1  m2  m , then RCM 
2
Thus, the centre of a mass of two equal masses lies exactly at the centre of
the line joining the two masses.
● For a system of N-particles of masses m1, m2 , m3...mN having their
position vectors as r1, r2 , r3 ,..., rN respectively, with respect to the origin of
the coordinate system, the position vector RCM of the centre of mass is
given by
N N

m r  m2r2  ...  mN rN i 1
 mi ri  mi ri
RCM  11  N  i 1
m1  m2  ...mN M
 mi
i 1
● The coordinates of centre of mass for a 3-D object is given as:
N N
 mi xi  mi xi
X CM  i N1  i 1
M
 mi
i 1
N N
 mi yi  mi yi
YCM  i N1  i 1
M
 mi
i 1
N N
 mi zi  mi zi
i 1
ZCM  N
 i 1
M
 mi
i 1
● For a continuous distribution of mass, the coordinates of centre of mass are
given by
1 1 1
X CM   xdm; YCM   ydm; ZCM   zdm
M M M
● Velocity of centre of mass
N N

m v  m2v2  ...  mN vN i 1
 mivi  mivi
vCM  11  N  i 1
m1  m2  ...mN M
 mi
i 1
● Acceleration of centre of mass

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 N N

m a  m2a2  ...  mN aN i 1
 mi ai  mi ai
aCM  11  N  i 1
m1  m2  ...mN M
 mi
i 1

Angular velocity and acceleration:

● Angular velocity: It is defined as the time rate of change of angular
displacement and is given by,
d

dt
● Angular velocity is directed along the axis of rotation. Angular velocity is
a vector quantity. Its SI unit is rad/s and its dimensional formula is
 M 0 L0T 1  .
 
● Relationship between linear velocity and angular velocity
The linear velocity of a particle of a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis
is given by,
v r
where r is the position vector of the particle with respect to an origin
along the fixed axis.
● As in pure translational motion, all body particles have the same linear
velocity at any instant. Similarly, in pure rotational motion, all body
particles have the same angular velocity at any instant.
● Angular acceleration: It is defined as the time rate of change of angular
velocity, and it is given by
d

dt
● Angular acceleration is a vector quantity. Its SI unit is rads 2 and its
dimensional formula is  M 0 L0T 2  .

Equation of rotational motion:

After a brief introduction to angular velocity and angular acceleration, let us see
how they are related to the kinematic equations.
For a certain initial angular velocity, final angular velocity ( o , ) with time t,
the kinematic equations of rotational motion is given as:

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0  0   t
1
  0t   t 2
2
  0  2
2 2

These equations are valid for uniform angular acceleration.

Moment of inertia:
● Moment of inertia of a rigid body about a given axis of rotation is defined
as the sum of the product of masses of all the particles of the body and the
square of their respective perpendicular distances from the axis of rotation.
It is denoted by symbol I and is given by,
N
I   mi ri3
i 1

● Moment of inertia is a scalar quantity. Its SI unit is kgm2 and its

dimensional formula is  M 1L2T 0  . It depends upon
o Position of the axis of rotation
o Orientation of the axis of addition
o Shape of the body
o Size of the body
o Distribution of mass of the body about the axis of rotation.
● Radius of gyration: It is defined as the distance from the axis of rotation
at which, if the whole mass of the body were concentrated, the moment of
inertia of the body would be the same as the actual distribution of the mass
of the body. It is denoted by the symbol K.
● Radius of gyration of a body about an axis of rotation may also be defined
as the root mean square distance of the particles from the axis of rotation.
r12  r22  ...  rN2
i.e., K 
N
● The moment of inertia of a body about a given axis is equal to the product
of the mass of the body and square of its radius of gyration about that axis.
i.e., I  MK 2 .
● The SI unit of radius of gyration is metre and its dimensional formula is
 M 0 L1T 0  .
 

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 ● Theorem of perpendicular axes: The moment of inertia of a planar
lamina about an axis perpendicular to its plane is equal to the sum of its
moments of inertia about two perpendicular axis concurrent with a
perpendicular axis and lying in the plane of the body.

Image: Theorem of perpendicular axes

Iz  Ix  I y
Where x and y are two perpendicular axes in the plane, and the z-axis is
perpendicular to its plane.
● Theorem of parallel axes: The moment of inertia of a body about any
axis is equal to the sum of the moment of inertia of the body about a parallel
axis passing through its centre of mass and the product of its mass and the
square of the distance between the two parallel axis.

Image: Parallel axis theorem

I  I CM  Md 2
Where ICM is the moment of inertia of the body about an axis (z) passing
through the centre of mass, and d is the perpendicular distance between
two parallel axes.

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The moment of inertia and radius of gyration of some regular bodies about
a specific axis are given below
Radius
Moment
of
S. No Body Axis of rotation of inertia Diagram
gyratio
(I)
n (k)
i. About an axis
passing through its
centre and MR 2 R
perpendicular to its
Uniform
plane
circular
ring of i. About its diameter 1 R
1 MR 2
mass M 2 2
and ii. About a tangent in 3 3
radius R its own plane MR 2 R
2 2
iii. About a tangent
perpendicular to its 2MR 2 R 2
plane
i. About an axis
passing through its
1 R
centre and MR 2
2 2
perpendicular to its
Uniform
circular plane
disc of ii. About its diameter 1 R
2 MR 2
mass M 4 2
and iii. About a tangent in 5 R
MR 2 5
radius R its own plane 4 2
iv. About a tangent
3 3
perpendicular to its MR 2 R
2 2
plane
Solid 2 2
3 i. About its diameter MR 2 R
sphere of 5 5

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 radius R
and mass
ii. About a tangential 7 7
M MR 2 R
axis 5 5

Hollow 2 2
sphere of i. About its diameter MR 2 R
3 3
4 radius R
and mass ii. About a tangential 5
MR 2
5
R
M axis 3 3
1 R
i. About its own axis MR 2
2 2
Solid ii. About an axis
cylinder passing through its
 l 2 R2  l 2 R2
of length centre and M   
5 12 4  12 4
l, radius perpendicular to its
R and own axis
mass M iii. About the diameter
 l 2 R2 
of one of the faces of M   l 2 R2
3 4  
cylinder 3 4

i. About its own axis MR 2 R

Hollow,
cylinder
of mass ii. About an axis
6 M, passing through its
 R2 l 2 
centre and M    R2 l 2
length l  2 12  
and perpendicular to its 2 12

radius R own axis

.
Thin rod i. About an axis
ML2 L
7 of length passing through its
12 12
L centre and

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 perpendicular to the
rod

ii. About an axis

passing through one ML2 L
end and perpendicular 3 3
to the rod

Rectang
i. About an axis
ular
passing through its
lamina  l 2  b2  l 2  b2
8 centre and
of length M 
perpendicular to its  12  12
l and
plane
breadth b

Uniform i. About an axis

cone of passing through its
3 3
9 radius R centre and joining its MR 2 R
10 10
and vertex to the centre of
height h base

Parallele
piped of
length l,
 l 2  b2 
10 breadth b i. About its central axis M   l 2  b2
 12 
and 12
height h,
mass M

Torque:
● The torque or moment of force is a measure of the turning effect of force
about the axis of rotation. It is denoted by the symbol  .
Torque   r  F
In magnitude,   rF sin 
Where θ is the angle between r and F.

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 ● Principle of moments: According to the principle of moments, a body
will be in rotational equilibrium if the algebraic sum of the movements
of all forces acting on the body about a fixed point is zero.
● Centre of gravity: The center of gravity of a body is that point where
the total gravitational torque on the body is zero.
● Angular momentum: Angular momentum of a particle about a given
axis is the moment of linear momentum of the particle about that axis. It
is denoted by the symbol L.
L  r  p i.e. L  rp sin 
It is a vector quantity. Its SI unit is kgm2 s 1 and dimensions are ML2T 1
.
dL
● Relationship between torque and angular momentum:  
dt
● Change in angular momentum is called angular impulse (J).
J  L2  L1 .

Law of conservation of angular momentum: If no external torque acts on a

system, then the total angular momentum is said to be conserved.
dL
i.e.   0 then  0 or L = constant
dt
● A rigid body is said to be in equilibrium when:
1. It is in translational equilibrium i.e. the total external force acting
on it is zero. i.e.  Fi  0 .
2. It is in rotational equilibrium, i.e. the total external torque acting
on it is zero. i.e.  i  0 .

Relation between angular momentum and moment of inertia:

Angular momentum, L  I .
Important points:
1
● Kinetic energy of rotational motion, K R  I  2 .
2
● For a redistribution of masses in a system: I11  I 22
1 1
● Work energy theorem in rotational motion: I 222  I112 .
2 2
● Types of motion include Translational motion, rotational motion, and
rolling motion.

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 ● Translational motion is also known as kinematics.
● Rolling motion is the motion which happens when a body is rolling on a
surface or an inclined plane.
● Kinetic energy of a rolling body = translational kinetic energy + rotational
1 1 2 1 2 K2 
kinetic energy i.e. Mv  I   Mv 1  2 
2
2 2 2  R 

Image: Body rolling down on an inclined plane

● When a body rolls down on an inclined plane of inclination without
2 gh
slipping its velocity at the bottom of incline is given by: v  .
K2
1 2
R
● When a body rolls down on an inclined plane without slipping its
g sin 
acceleration at the bottom of incline is given by: a  .
K2
1 2
R
● When a body rolls down on an inclined plane without slipping its time at
 K2 
2l 1  2 
the bottom of incline is given by: t   R 
.
g sin 

The analogy between translational motion and rotational motion:

S.No Translational motion Rotational motion
1. Displacement s Angular displacement θ
ds d
2. Velocity v  Angular velocity  
dt dt
dv
3. Acceleration a  Angular acceleration
dt

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 d

dt
4. Mass M Moment of inertia I
5. Force F  Ma Torque   I
6. Work dW  Fds Work dW   d
Kinetic energy of a translational
Kinetic energy of a rotational motion
motion
7. I 2
Mv 2
KR 
KT  2
2
8. Power P  Fv Power P  
Linear momentum Angular momentum
9.
p  Mv L  I
Equations of translational motion: Equations of rotational motion:
i. v  u  t i.   0   t
1 1
ii. s  ut  at 2 ii.   0t   t 2
10. 2 2
iii. v2  u 2  2as iii.  2  02  2
a
snth  u   2n  1 
iv.
2
iv. nth  0   2n  1
2

Points to remember:
● A rigid body is one in which the distances between different particles of
the body do not change even though there are forces acting on them.
● Axis of rotation: The line along which the body is fixed is known as axis
of rotation. Examples for rotation about an axis are a ceiling fan and a
merry-go-round etc.
● The centre of mass of a body is a point where the entire mass of the body
can be supposed to be concentrated. In fact, the nature of motion executed
by the body shall remain unaffected if all the forces acting on the body
were applied directly at this point.
● For a system of N-particles of masses m1, m2 , m3...mN having their
position vectors as r1, r2 , r3 ,..., rN respectively, with respect to the origin of

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 the coordinate system, the position vector RCM of the centre of mass is
given by
N N
 mi ri  mi ri
m r  m2r2  ...  mN rN i 1
RCM  11  N  i 1
m1  m2  ...mN M
 mi
i 1
● Angular velocity: It is defined as the time rate of change of angular
displacement and is given by
d

dt
● Relationship between linear velocity and angular velocity
The linear velocity of a particle of a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis
is given by,
v r
where r is the position vector of the particle with respect to an origin
along the fixed axis.
● Angular acceleration: It is defined as the time rate of change of angular
velocity and it is given by,
d

dt
● Moment of inertia of a rigid body about a given axis of rotation is defined
as the sum of the product of masses of all the particles of the body and
square of their respective perpendicular distances from the axis of rotation.
It is denoted by symbol I and is given by,
N
I   mi ri3
i 1

● Moment of inertia is a scalar quantity. Its SI unit is kgm2 and its

dimensional formula is  M 0 L1T 0  . It depends upon
o Position of the axis of rotation
o Orientation of the axis of addition
o Shape of the body
o Size of the body
o Distribution of mass of the body about the axis of rotation.
● Radius of gyration: It is defined as the distance from the axis of rotation
at which the whole mass of the body was concentrated, the moment of

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 inertia of the body would be the same as the actual distribution of the mass
of the body. It is denoted by the symbol K.
● Theorem of perpendicular axes: The moment of inertia of a planar
lamina about an axis perpendicular to its plane is equal to the sum of its
moments of inertia about two perpendicular axis concurrent with a
perpendicular axis and lying in the plane of the body. I z  I x  I y .
● Theorem of parallel axes: The moment of inertia of a body about any
axis is equal to the sum of the moment of inertia of the body about a parallel
axis passing through its centre of mass and the product of its mass and the
square of the distance between the two parallel axis. I  I CM  Md 2
● The torque or moment of force is a measure of the turning effect of force
about the axis of rotation. It is denoted by the symbol  .
Torque   r  F
In magnitude,   rF sin 
Where θ is the angle between r and F.
● Principle of moments: According to the principle of moments, a body
will be in rotational equilibrium if the algebraic sum of the movements
of all forces acting on the body about a fixed point is zero.
● Centre of gravity: The center of gravity of a body is that point where
the total gravitational torque on the body is zero.
● Angular momentum: Angular momentum of a particle about a given
axis is the moment of linear momentum of the particle about that axis. It
is denoted by the symbol L.
L  r  p i.e. L  rp sin 
It is a vector quantity. Its SI unit is kgm2 s 1 and dimensions are ML2T 1
.
dL
● Relationship between torque and angular momentum:  
dt
● Change in angular momentum is called angular impulse (J).
J  L2  L1 .
● Law of conservation of angular momentum: If no external torque acts
on a system then the total angular momentum is said to be conserved.
dL
i.e.   0 then  0 or L = constant
dt
● A rigid body is said to be in equilibrium when:

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 1. It is in translational equilibrium i.e. the total external force acting on it is
zero. i.e.  Fi  0 .
2. It is in rotational equilibrium i.e. the total external torque acting on it is
zero. i.e.  i  0 .

Important formulae:
● For a system of two particles of masses m1 and m2 having their position
vector has r1 and r2 respectively, with respect to origin of the coordinate
system, the position vector RCM of the centre of mass is given by
m1r1  m2 r2
RCM 
m1  m2
r1  r2
If m1  m2  m , then RCM 
2
N N
 mi ri  mi ri
m r  m2r2  ...  mN rN i 1
● For n particles: RCM  11  N  i 1
m1  m2  ...mN M
 mi
i 1
● The coordinates of centre of mass for a 3-D object is given as:
N N
 mi xi  mi xi
i 1
X CM  N
 i 1
M
 mi
i 1
N N
 mi yi  mi yi
YCM  i N1  i 1
M
 mi
i 1
N N
 mi zi  mi zi
i 1
ZCM  N
 i 1
M
 mi
i 1
● For a continuous distribution of mass, the coordinates of centre of mass are
given by,
1 1 1
X CM   xdm; YCM   ydm; ZCM   zdm
M M M

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 ● Velocity of centre of mass
N N
 mivi  mivi
m1v1  m2v2  ...  mN vN i 1
vCM   N  i 1
m1  m2  ...mN M
 mi
i 1
● Acceleration of centre of mass
N N
 mi ai  mi ai
m1a1  m2a2  ...  mN aN i 1
aCM   N  i 1
m1  m2  ...mN M
 mi
i 1
● Relationship between linear velocity and angular velocity
The linear velocity of a particle of a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis
is given by,
v r
where r is the position vector of the particle with respect to an origin
along the fixed axis.
N
● I   mi ri3 for moment of inertia.
i 1
● Radius of gyration of a body about an axis of rotation:
r12  r22  ...  rN2
i.e., K  , I  MK .
2
N
● I z  I x  I y for perpendicular axis.
● I  I CM  Md 2
● Torque   r  F . In magnitude,   rF sin  where θ is the angle between
r and F.
● L  r  p i.e. L  rp sin  for angular momentum.
dL
●   is the relationship between torque and angular momentum.
dt
● Relation between angular momentum and moment of inertia:
Angular momentum, L  I .
1
● Kinetic energy of rotational motion, K R  I  2 .
2
● For a redistribution of masses in a system: I11  I 22

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 1 1
● Work energy theorem in rotational motion: I 222  I112 .
2 2
● Kinetic energy of a rolling body = translational kinetic energy + rotational
1 1 2 1 2 K2 
kinetic energy i.e. Mv  I   Mv 1  2 
2
2 2 2  R 
● When a body rolls down on an inclined plane of inclination without
2 gh
slipping its velocity at the bottom of incline is given by: v  .
K2
1 2
R
● When a body rolls down on an inclined plane without slipping its
g sin 
acceleration at the bottom of incline is given by: a  .
K2
1 2
R
● When a body rolls down on an inclined plane without slipping its time at
 K2 
2l 1  2 
the bottom of incline is given by: t   R 
.
g sin 

Questions:
1. A circular platform is mounted on a frictionless vertical axle. Its radius R
= 2 m and its moment of inertia about the axis is 200 kg m 2 . It is initially at
rest. A 50 kg man stands on the edge of the platform and begins to walk along
the edge at the speed of 1 ms-1 relative to the ground. Time taken by the man
to complete one revolution is:
(a)  s
3π
(b) s
2
(c) 2πs
π
(d) s
2
Answer: option c) 2 s
Solution: As the system is initially at rest therefore, initial angular momentum
Li  0 .

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According to the principle of conservation of angular momentum, final angular
momentum, L f  0
 Angular momentum = Angular momentum of man of platform in opposite
direction
i.e., mvR  I
mvR 50  1  2 1
Or     rads 1
I 200 2
Angular velocity of man relative to platform is
v 1 1
r       1rads 1
R 2 2
Time taken by the man to complete one revolution is
2 2
T   2 s
r 1
Therefore, option c) 2 s is the correct answer.

2. A rod of weight W is supported by two parallel knife edges A and B and

is equilibrium in a horizontal position. The knives are at a distance d from
each other. The centre of mass of the rod is at distance x from A. The normal
reaction on A is:
W d - x 
(a)
x
W d - x 
(b)
d
Wx
(c)
d
Wd
(d)
x
W d  x
Answer: option b)
d
Solution: Given situation is shown in figure:

N1 = Normal reaction on A

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N 2 = Normal reaction on B
W = Weight of the rod
The vertical equilibrium,
N1  N2  W
Torque balance about centre of mass of the rod,
N1x  N 2  d  x 
Putting the value of N 2 from equation (1)
N1x  (W  N1 )  d  x 
N1x  Wd  Wx  N1d  N1x
N1d  W (d  x)
W (d  x)
 N1 
d
W (d  x)
Hence, the normal reaction on A is .
d

List of common mistakes and points to remember:

● All of the previously stated significant issues are equally asked as
numerical problems and derivations.
● It is advised to have a conceptual understanding of each topic.
● Practice the more and more numerical questions from each as well.
● Keep in mind that a rolling motion can occur both with and without
slipping.
● Go over the chapter's relationships between the physical quantities again.
● Create a table or chart to show the moment of inertia for various items and
forms.

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