Lesson-2

CENTRE OF MASS, CONSERVATION OF

MOMENTUM, IMPULSE, COLLISION
INTRODUCTION

In the earlier chapter we dealt with the motion of point masses. If there is an extended body it contains
millions of particles. All particle may have different velocities and acceleration. For example, a spinning

cricket ball has different acceleration and velocities for different particles of the ball. Centre of mass

plays an important role in studying the motion of such bodies and also the system which has a no of
constituents.

CENTRE OF MASS OF A SYSTEM OF PARTICLES

Consider a system of n particles having masses m1, m2, m3, ....mn having respective position vectors
    
r1 , r2 , r3 ,.....,rn with repsect to the origin. The centre of mass, rcm , of this system is given by
  
 m r  m2 r2  .....  mn rn
rcm  1 1
m1  m2  .....  mn

If total mass of the system is M, then

  
M rcm  m1r1  m2 r2  .....  mn rn

Co-ordinates of centre of mass are

x1 m 1  x 2 m 2  ........ x m m n
xcm = m 1  m 2  ........ m n

y1m1  y 2 m2  ........ ym mn
ycm = m1  m2  ........mn

CENTRE OF MASS OF A CONTINUOUS BODY

When the body has continuous distribution of mass, the co-ordinates of centre of mass can be determined
as

 x dm
xcm =
 dm

 y dm
ycm =
 dm
CENTRE OF MASS OF THE BODY WHEN A PORTION OF THE BODY IS TAKEN OUT

Let there be a body of mass m and a mass m1 is taken out from this body. The coordinates of centre of
mass can be written as
mx  m1 x1
xcm = ( m – m )
1

my  m1 y1
ycm = (m  m )
1

where x, y are coordinates of centre of mass of whole (original) body and x1, y1 are coordinates of
centre of mass of portion to be taken out.

LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM

It states that if the resultant force on a system of particles is zero, then its total momentum remains
conserved.
If an external force, Fext, acts on a body, Newton’s second law of motion shows that this force is equal
dp
to the rate of change of momentum, .
dt

dp
 Fext 
dt

dp
If Fext  0,  0 or p is a constant quantity..
dt

Thus momenta of individual particles may change in collision of the particles, but the sum of momentum
of particles remains unchanged if the external force is equal to zero.

SYSTEM OF VARIABLE MASS

 
Newton’s second law F  ma is applicable to a system whose mass is constant. If mass of the system

is not constant, the form F  dp is still applicable and can be written as

dt

 d
mu
F =
dt

du  dm 
= m u 
dt  dt 

dV dm
Mt  Fext  u
dt dt

Where u is velocity of adding or leaving mass w.r.t. the body and V is velocity of the body at any instant
dm
w.r.t. to inertial frame of reference. The term can be positive or negative depending upon whether
dt
mass is added to the system or mass is leaving the system.
ROCKET PROPULSION
The propulsion of rocket is based on the law of conservation of momentum. In the combustion chamber
of a rocket, the fuel is burnt in the presence of an oxidizing agent due to which a jet of gases emerges
from the tail of the rocket. This action due to emission of gases in the backward direction produces a
reaction force in the forward direction due to which the rocket moves forward.
If the initial velocity of the rocket is zero and m0 is the initial mass of the gas and u is the speed of exhaust
of the gases such that m is the mass of the rocket at time t, the velocity v of rocket is given by
m 
v  u log e  o 
 m 
The thrust F on the rocket is given by
dm
F  u
dt
The thrust on the rocket is thus equal to the product of exhaust speed of the burnt gases and the rate of
combustion of fuel at that time. The acceleration a of the rocket at time t is given by

dv  dm  u  dm   u 
a         
dt  dt  m  dt   m0  (dm dt )t 

 dm 
Here m is instantaneous mass of the body and m = m0 –  t
 dt 
It is an example of the acceleration of a body whose mass changes continously as the gases due to
burning of fuel escape from the rocket.

COLLISIONS
The interaction between two or more bodies in a short time is called a collision. If no net external force
is acting on the bodies, then according to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of
the system before and after the collision is equal.

CLASSIFICATION OF COLLISIONS:
These are classified according to whether the kinetic energy is conserved or not in the collision and these
collisions are of the following types:

(a) Elastic Collisions: If the kinetic energy of the colliding particles is equal before and after
collision, the collision is said to be an elastic collision. If m1 is mass of a body moving with velocity
u1, which when collides with a body of mass m2 moving with velocity u2, so that the final velocities
are v1 and v2 in perfectly elastic collision, then
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
mu  m u  mv  m v
2 1 1 2 2 2 2 11 2 2 2
(b) Inelastic Collision : If the kinetic energy is not conserved, the collision is said to be inelastic.
The kinetic energy is partially converted into the form of heat, sound, deformation energy etc.

(c) Perfectly Inelastic Collision : The collision is said to be perfectly inelastic if the two bodies
stick together after collision and move with the same velocity.
COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION :
The elasticity of collision is measured in terms of a constant called as the coefficient of restitution. It is
defined as the ratio of relative velocity after collision to the relative velocity before collision and the ratio is
negative.
u1 u2
State before collision

v1 v2
State after collision

If u1 and u2 are the respective velocities of the two bodies before collision and v1 and v2 are the
corresponding velocities of the two bodies after the collision, then
v1  v2
u1  u 2 = –e

The coefficient of restitution, e can also be expressed as the ratio of velocity of separation after collision
to the velocity of approach before collision.
v 2  v1
e = u u
1 2

For the perfectly elastic collision, e = 1

For the perfectly inelastic collision, e = 0
For inelastic collision, 0 < e < 1
In elastic and inelastic collisions, momentum is conserved whereas in inelastic collisions, kinetic energy
is not conserved. When the two bodies collide obliquely, their relative velocity resolved along their common
normal bears a constant ratio to their relative velocity before collision resolved in the same direction and
is of opposite sign.

ELASTIC COLLISION
Consider two small smooth spheres of masses m1 and m2 moving along the line joining their centres with
velocities u1 and u2 respectively. Let their respective velocities become v1 and v2 after the elastic
collision as shown in the figure.
u1 u2
m1 m2
v1 v2
m2 m2

Since momentum is conserved,

m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2
m1(u1 – v1) = m2(v2 – u2) .....(i)
Since kinetic energy is also conserved,

1 1 1 1
m1 u12  m2 u 22 = m1 v12  m2 v 22
2 2 2 2

m1 (u12  v12 )  m2 (v 22  u 22 ) .....(ii)

 Dividing (ii) by (i)
u1 + v1 = v2 + u2
or v1 – v2 = u2 – u1 .....(iii)
As v1 = –u1 + u2 + v2
Substitute v1 in equation (i)
m1(u1 + u1 – u2 – v2) = m2v2 – m2u2
2 m1u1 + (m2 – m1) u2 = (m1 + m2)v2

 2m1   m2  m1 
v2 =  m  m  u1   ( m  m )  u2 .....(iv)
 1 2  1 2 

Similarly,

 m1  m2   2 m2 
v1 =  m  m  u1   m  m  u2 .....(v)
 1 2  1 2

Special Cases:
(i) When m1 = m2,
From equation (i),
u1 – v1 = v2 – u2
v1 + v2 = u1 + u2
Equation (iii) gives
v1 – v2 = u – u1
 v1 = u2 and v2 = u1
 In one dimensional elastic collision of two bodies of equal masses, the bodies exchange velocities
due to collision.
(ii) When m2 is at rest i.e. u2 = 0.

2m1u1  m2  m1  2m1u
v2 = m  m +  m  m  u 2  v2 = m  m
1 2  2 1 1 2

The velocities after the collision are given as follows

(a) If m1 = m2 = m

2 m u
v2 = = u1, v1 = 0.
2m

Both the momentum and the kinetic energy of the first body are completely transferred to the
second body. As v1 = 0, the first body is stopped.
 (b) If m2 >> m1, v1 ~ – u1, v2 ~ 0

Thus when a light body collides with a much heavier stationary body, the velocity of light body is
reversed and heavier body almost remains at rest.

(c) If m2 << m1, v1 ~ u1 and v2 ~ 2u1

Thus when a heavy body collides with a much lighter body that is at rest, the velocity of heavier
body remains almost unchanged. The light body moves forward with approximately twice the
velocity of the heavier body.

Inelastic Collision:
Consider two bodies of masses m1 and m2 moving along the line joining their centres, with velocities u1
and u2 respectively. Let their respective velocities after collision be v1 and v2.
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2 (As momentum is conserved)
v1 – v2 = –e(u1 – u2) (by definition of e)

There is a loss of kinetic energy during collision when the bodies stick to each other after the collision as
their kinetic energy is not conserved.

In an imperfectly elastic collision lying between perfectly elastic and inelastic collision, the loss in kinetic
energy, E, is given by

1  m1 m2 
E =   (e2 –1) (u1 – u2)2.
2  m1  m2 
Putting e = 0 in the above equation, it is clear that the loss of kinetic energy is maximum in case of
perfectly in elastic collision
 SOLVED EXAMPLES
Ex.1: Three masses m, 2m and 3 m are kept at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side a. What is the
position of centre of mass for coordinate system shown in the figure.

m1 x1  m2 x2  m3 x3
Sol.: xcm = (m1  m2  m3 )

a
m  0  2m  a  3m 
= 2
6m

3ma
2am 
= 2
6m

 7a 
= 
 12 

3a
m  0  2 m  0  3m 
ycm = 2
6m

 3 3a 
=  12 
 

3a
=
4

Ex.2: The linear mass density of rod of a length l = 2 m varies from A as (2 + x) kg/m. What is the position
of centre of mass from end A.
Sol.: Mass of strip dx is
dm = (2 + x)dx

 x dm
 xcm =
 dm
2
 0
x. (2  x) dx
= 2
 0
( 2  x ) dx

2
 ( 2 x  x 2 ) dx
0
= 2
 0
( 2  x) dx
 2
 2x 2 x3 
 
 2  3
 0
2
=  x2 
 2x  
 2  0


1
4 8
3
= 4
22 
2

20
10
= 3    m
6 9

so centre of mass is at a distance of (10/9) m from end A.

Ex.3: One fourth of the mass of square lamina is cut off (as shown in figure). Where does the centre of
mass of the remaining part of the square shift.
m
Sol.: Here m1 =
4
3a
x1 =
4
a
x = 2
 
using
mx  m1 x1
xcm =
(m  m1 )
a m 3a
m  
2 4 4
= A = (a/2, a/2)
 m
m   B = (3a/4, 3a/4)
 4

a 3a

2 16
= 3
4
5a
=
12

a m 3a
m  
2 4 4
ycm = m
m
4

5a
=
12
Ex.4 Two block of masses m1 = 2 kg and m2 = 5 kg are moving in the same direction along a frictionless
surface with speeds 10 m/s and 3 m/s, respectively, m2 being ahead of m1. An ideal spring with
K = 1120 newton/metre is attached to the back side of m2. Find the maximum compression of the
spring when the blocks move after the collision.

Sol.: Let v be the final velocity of the system after collision.

Applying the law of conservation of momentum, we have
m1u1 + m2u2 = (m1 + m2)v
Substituting the values,
(2  10) + (5  3) = (2 + 5) v
v = 35/7 = 5 m/s
Applying the law of conservation of kinetic energy, we get

1 1 1 1
m u 2 + m2u22 = (m1 + m2) v22 + Kx2
2 1 1 2 2 2

m1u12 + m2u22 = (m1 + m2)v2 + Kx2

2 × (10)2 + 5 × (3)2 = [(2 + 5)  (5)2] + 1120 x2
200 + 45 = 175 + 1120 x2

70 1
x2 = = = 0.25 m.
1120 16

Ex.5 A body of mass M with a small disc of mass m placed on it

rests on a smooth horizontal plane as shown in figure.

The disc is set in motion in the horizontal direction with

velocity v. To what height relative to the initial level will the

disc rise after breaking off the body M ? The friction is

assumed to be absent.

Sol.: If m rises to a height h, the law of conservation of energy gives

1 m v2 = m g h + 12 (m + M) v12 .....(i)
2

where v1 is the velocity of the combined system.

Applying the law of conservation of momentum,

mv = (m + M)v1 .....(ii)
 Substituting the value of v1 from equation (ii) in equation (i), we get
2
1 m v2 1 (m
 mv 
2 = mgh + 2 + M)  (m M ) 
 

1 m v2 (mv) 2
or 2 – 12 = mgh
(m  M )

 m 
or m v2 1  ( m  M )  = 2 m g h
 

M v2
 h=
2(m  M ) g

Ex.6 A flat car of mass m0 starts moving to the right due to a constant horizontal force F. The sand spills on
the flat car from a stationary hopper. The velocity of loading is constant and equal to  kg/s.

Find the time dependence of the velocity and the acceleration of the flat car in the process of loading.
The friction is negligibly small.

kg
Sol.: The rate of increase of mass of the flat car =  .
s
The equation of motion is given by
dv dm
m dt = F – v = F – v
dt

At the instant t, m = m0 +  t
v t
dv dt dv dt
 F   v = m0   t   F  v = m 0  t
0 0

1 F  v 1 m0   t
or, –  loge =  loge m
F 0

F m0   t Ft
or loge F   v = loge m0  v=
 t 
m0 1  
 m0 

The acceleration a, is given by

dv F
a= = 2 .
dt  t 
m0 1  
 m 0 
Ex.7 A 20 gm bullet pierces through a plate of mass M1 = 1 kg and then
comes to rest inside a second plate of mass M2 = 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 M2. Neglect
any loss of material of the plates, due to action of bullet.

Sol.: Let v1 m/sec be the initial velocity of the bullet and v2 m/sec be the velocity with which each plate
moves. Here the initial momentum of the bullet is equal to the sum of final momentum of the plate M1
plus momentum of the plate M2 including the bullet.
 m v1 = M1 v2 + (M2 + m)v2
0.02 v1 = 1  v2 + (2.98 + 0.02)v2
v1 = 200 v2 .....(i)

Let the velocity of the bullet when it comes out of the plate M1 be v3. The momentum of the bullet
between plates M1 and M2 is equal to the sum of momentum of plate M2 and the bullet
0.02 v3 = (0.02 + 2.98)v2
v3 = 150 v2 .....(ii)

v1  v 3
 % loss = v1
 100

200 v 2  150 v 2
= 200 v 2
 100 = 25%.

Ex.8 A body of mass m moving with a velocity v1 in the X-direction collides with another body of mass M
moving in Y-direction with a velocity v2. They coalesce into one body during collision. Calculate :
(a) the direction and magnitude of the momentum of the final body,
(b) the fraction of the initial kinetic energy transformed into other forms such as heat, during the
collision.

Sol.: (a) The collision is shown in the figure.

where v is final velocity of both masses.
Momentum being a vector, is conserved in every direction.
Equating the total initial and final momentum along each axis, we get
m v1 + 0 = (M + m) v cos .....(i)
0 + M v2 = (M + m) v sin .....(ii)
Squaring and adding equations (i) and (ii), we get
(m v1)2 + (M v2)2 = (M + m)2 v2 .....(iii)
 The final momentum,
= (M + m)v = [(m v1 ) 2  (M v 2 ) 2 ] [from equation (iii)]
Dividing equation (ii) by equation (i), we have
M v2  M v2 
tan = m v or  = tan–1  
1  m v1 

1 1
(b) The initial kinetic energy = m v12 + M v22
2 2
1
Final kinetic energy = (M + m)v2
2

1 1 2 2
= 2 . (M m) . [(m v1 )  (M v 2 ) ]

Decrease in total kinetic energy is given by

1 1  1 1
E =  m v12  M v12   . . [( m v1 ) 2  (M v 2 ) 2 ]
 2 2  2 (M  m )

1 Mm 2 2
= 2 (M  m) (v1  v 2 )

Fraction of kinetic energy transformed into heat

E  Mm  
 v12  v 22 

= 1 m v 2  1 Mv 2 =  (M m)   m v2  M v2 
2 1 2 2    1 2 

Ex. 9. Two bodies A and B of masses m and 2m respectively are placed on a smooth floor. They are
connected by a spring. A third body C of mass m moves with a velocity v0 along the line joining A and
B and collides elastically with A, as shown in figure. At a certain time t0, 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 .

Find :
(a) The common velocity of A and B at the time t0
(b) The spring constant.

Sol.: (a) The body C collides elastically with body A, it comes to rest and transfers its momentum mv0 and
1
kinetic energy mv02 to body A. Now, B is stationary and the spring is in the unstretched state.
2
1
Thus, instantaneous momentum of the system is mv0 and kinetic energy mv02.
2
Now the spring is compressed. Let the instantaneous velocity of A and B after collision be v and
the compression of spring x0.
 As there are no external forces on the system, the law of conservation of momentum gives
mv0 = mv + (2m)v .....(i)
Applying conservation of energy

1 1 1 1
mv02 = mv2 + (2m)v2 + Kx2 .....(ii)
2 2 2 2
From equation (i),
1
v= v0
3
Substituting the value of v in equation (ii), we have
2 2
1 1  v0   v0 
mv02 = m  3  + 1  2m   + 1 Kx2
2 2   2  3  2

2
2mv0
Solving we get, K = .
3x 2

Ex.10.A block of mass M with a semi-circular track of radius R rests a horizontal frictionless surface. A
uniform cylinder of radius r and mass m is released from rest at the point A as shown in the figure. The
cylinder slips on the semicircular frictionless track.

(a) How far has the block moved when the cylinder
reaches the bottom point B of the track ?
(b) How fast is the block moving when the cylinder
reaches the bottom of the track ?

Sol. : (a) Let the horizontal displacement of block be x1 and displacement of cylinder w.r.t. block be x, then

M(x1) = m (x – x1)

mx
 x1 = ( M  m)

m
(b) Solving for x2, we get, x2 = ( m  M )

Let v1 be the velocity of the block and v2 be the velocity of the cylinder, when the cylinder rolls to
point B.
Applying conservation of momentum, Mv1 = mv2
1 1
Applying the law of conservation of energy, Mv12 + mv22 = mg (R – r)
2 2
1 1
mv12 + m(M/m)2 v12 = mg(R – r)
2 2
½
 2g (R  r ) 
 v = m  M (m  M )  .
 
 A
33. A rectangular plate (a × b) of mass 3 kg and length
a = 2 m is hinged at one end so that it can rotate a
freely about horizontal axis AB. 100 balls of mass
0.01 kg each hit the plate at shaded portion per b
second from below. (Assuming collision is elastic and
a/2
ball hit the shaded portion uniformly). What is velocity B
of balls so that plate is in equilibrium. [IIT-JEE-2006]

Sol.: No of ball striking at strip of width dx and parallel to axis

 n 
dn =  a / 2 · dx  Assuming balls are hitting the shaded portion uniformly.
 
torque due to impulsive forces

a
 n  3 a/2
 
a/2
 2m0 v · x ·
 a / 2
· dx  =

m vna
2 0

a 3 dx
To be in equilibrium mg = m vna
2 2 0

mg
 v = 3m n = 10 m/sec. (Putting m = 3kg, m0 = 0.01 kg, n = 100)
0
 OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. A bullet of mass m moving with a velocity v strikes a vertically suspended wooden block of mass M and
embedded in it. If the block rises to a height h, the initial velocity of the bullet will be

 M m   m   M m
(a) 2hg (b)   2 hg (c)   2 hg (d)   hg
 m   M m   m 

2. A particle of mass m is moving in a circular path of constant radius r, such that its centripetal acceleration
ac is varying with time as ac = k2 rt 2, where k is a constant. The power delivered to the particle by the
forces acting on it is
(a) 2m k 2 r 2 t (b) m k 2 r 2 t (c) mk 4r 2t 5/3 (d) Zero

3. Two identical billiard balls A and B of equal mass and radius are
in contact on a horizontal table. A similar third ball C strikes these
balls symmetrically in the middle and remains at rest after the
impact, the coefficient of restitution of the balls is
1 1
(a) (b)
6 3
2 3
(c) (d)
3 2

4. A body of mass 1 kg, which was initially at rest, explodes and breaks into three fragments of masses in
the ratio of 1 : 1 : 3. Both the pieces of equal masses fly off perpendicular to each other with a speed of
30 m/s each. The velocity of the heavier fragment is
10
(a) 2 m/s (b) 10 2 m/s (c) 20 m/s (d) 20 2 m/s

5. If the linear momentum of a body is increased by 50%, it kinetic energy will increase by
(a) 50% (b) 100% (c) 125% (d) 150%

6. Two perfectly elastic particles A and B of equal masses travelling along the line joining them with
velocity 25 m/s and 20 m/s respectively collide. Their velocities after the elatsic collision will be (in m/s)
respectively
(a) 0 and 45 (b) 5 and 45 (c) 20 and 25 (d) 25 and 20

7. A sphere of mass m moving with a constant velocity u hits another stationary sphere of the same mass.
If e is the coefficient of restitution, then the ratio of velocities of the two spheres after collision will be

1 e  1 e   e  1  e  1
(a)  1  e  (b)  1  e  (c)  e  1  (d)  e  1 
       
8. A canon ball is fired with a velocity of 200 m/s at an angle of 60º with the horizontal. At the highest point
it explodes into three equal fragments. One goes vertically upwards with a velocity of 100 m/s, the
second one falls vertically downwards with a velocity of 100 m/s. The third one moves with a velocity of
(a) 100 m/s horizontally (b) 300 m/s horizontally
(c) 200 m/s at 60º with the horizontal (d) 300 m/s at 60º with the horizontal

9. A body of mass 2.9 kg is suspended from a string of length 2.5 m and is at rest. A bullet of mass 100 g,
moving horizontally with a speed of 150 m/s, strikes and sticks to it. What is the maximum angle made by
the string with the vertical after the impact ? (g = 10 m/s2)
(a) 30º (b) 45º (c) 60º (d) 90º

10. A bullet of mass 0.01 kg, travelling at a speed of 500 m/s, strikes a block of mass 2 kg, which is
suspended by a string of length 5 m, and emerges out. The block rises bya vertical distance of 0.1 m. The
speed of the bullet after it emerges from the block is
(a) 55 m/s (b) 110 m/s (c) 220 m/s (d) 440 m/s

11. A 1 kg ball, moving at 12 m/s, collides head-on with a 2 kg ball moving in the opposite direction at
24 m/s. If the coefficient of restitution is 2/3, then the energy lost in the collision is
(a) 60 J (b) 120 J (c) 240 J (d) 480 J

12. An isolated particle of mass m is moving in a 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 3m/4. An instant later, the
smaller fragment is at y = +15 cm. The larger fragment at this instant is at
(a) y = –5 cm (b) y = +20 cm (c) y = +5 cm (d) y = –20 cm

13. A body of mass m1 and speed v1 makes a head-on, elastic collision with a body of mass m2, initially
at rest. The velocity of m1 after the collision is
m1  m2 v m – m2 2 m1v1 2 m2 v1
(a) 1 (b) 1 v1 (c) (d)
m1 m2 m1  m2 m 1  m2 m1  m2
14. In the above example, the velocity of mass m2 after the collision is
m1  m2 m1 – m2 2 m1 v1 2 m2 v1
(a) v1 (b) v (c) (d)
m1 m2 m1  m2 1 m1  m2 m1  m2
15. A ball of mass m approaches a moving wall of infinite mass with speed v along the normal to the
wall. The speed of the wall is u towards the ball. The speed of the ball after an elastic collision with
the wall is
(a) u + v away from the wall (b) 2 u + v away from the wall
(c) u – v away from the wall (d) v – 2 u away from the wall.

16. A neutron is moving with velocity u. It collides head on and elastically with an atom of mass number
A. If the initial K.E. of the neutron is E, how much K.E. is retained by neutron after collision ?
(a) [A/(A + 1)]2 E (b) [A/(A + 1)2] E
(c) [(1 – A)/(A + 1)2] E (d) [(A – 1)/(A + 1)2] E

17. A ball collides elastically with another ball of the same mass. The collision is oblique and initially one
of the ball was at rest. After the collision, the two balls move with same speeds. What will be the
angle between the velocity of the balls after the collision ?
(a) 30º (b) 45º (c) 60º (d) 90º
18. Which one of the following statements does not hold good when two balls of masses m1 and m2
undergo elastic collision ?
(a) when m1 < m2 and m2 at rest, there will be maximum transfer of momentum
(b) when m1 > m2 and m2 at rest, after collision the ball of mass m2 moves with four times the
velocity of m1
(c) when m1 = m2 and m2 at rest, there will be maximum transfer of K.E.
(d) when collision is oblique and m2 at rest with m1 = m2, after collision the ball moves in opposite
directions.

19. A ball is dropped from a height h on the ground. If the coefficient of restitution is e, the height to
which the ball goes up after it rebounds for the nth time is
e2 n h
(a) h e2n (b) h en (c) (d) 2 n
h e
20. Two equal spheres A and B lie on a smooth horizontal circular groove at opposite ends of diameter.
A is projected along the groove and at the end of time t impinges on B. If e is coefficient of restitution,
the second impact will occur after a time
2t t t 2t
(a) (b) (c) (d)
e e e e
21. A body of mass 2 kg moving with a velocity of 3 m/s collides head-on with a body of mass 1 kg
moving with a velocity of 4 m/s. After collision the two bodies stick together and move with a
common velocity which in the units m/s is equal to
(a) 1/4 (b) 1/3 (c) 2/3 (d) 3/4

22. The centre of mass of triangle shown in the figure has co-ordinates. y

h b b h
(a) x= ;y (b) x = ;y
2 2 2 2 h

b x
b h h b
(c) x= ;y (d) x = ;y
3 3 3 3

23. A cart of mass M is tied to one end of a massless rope of length 10 m. The other end of the rope
is in the hands of a man of mass M, the entire system is on a smooth horizontal surface. The man
is at x = 0 and the cart at x = 10 m. If the man pulls the cart by a roop, the man and the cart will
meet at the point :
(a) x = 0 (b) x = 5 m
(c) x = 10 m (d) They will never meet.
24. Two particles of masses M and 2 M are at a distance D apart. Under the mutual gravitational force
they start moving towards each other. The acceleraion of their centre of mass when they are D/2
apart is :
(a) 2 GM/D2 (b) 4 GM/D2 (c) 8 GM/D2 (d) Zero.
25. The position coordinates (x, y) of the cm of the T-shaped plate with reference to the frame shown
in the figure are
20 20 20
(a) x = 0, y = 8 cm (b) y = 0, x = cm (c) y = 0, x = cm (d) x = 0, y = cm
3 3 3
26. In the figure shown find out the distance of centre of mass
of a system of a uniform circular plate of radius 3 R from
O in which a hole of radius R is cut whose centre is at 2R
distance from centre of large circular plate.
(a) R/4 (b) R/5 (c) R/2 (d) R/8

27. In the figure shown a hole of radius 2 cm is made in a

semicircular disc of radius 6  at a distance 8 cm from the
centre C of the disc. The distance of the centre of mass
of this system from point C is:
(a) 4 cm (b) 8 cm (c) 6 cm (d) 12 cm

28. The centre of mass of a non uniform rod of length L whose mass per unit length  varies as
k.x 2
= where k is a constant & x is the distance of any point from one end, is (from the same
L
end)

3 1 k 3k
(a) L (b) L (c) (d)
4 4 L L

29. An equilateral triangular plate of mass ' 4 m ' of side ' a ' is kept as
shown. Consider two cases:
(i) a point mass ' 4 m ' is placed at the vertex P of the plate
(ii) a point mass ' m ' is placed at the vertex R of the plate
In both cases, the ' x ' co-ordinate of centre of mass is the same. Then the ' x ' co-ordinate of centre of
mass of the plate is:
a a 6a 2a
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 6 7 3

30. The ‘ y ’ co-ordinate of the centre of mass of the system of three

rods of length ‘2a‘ and two rods of length ‘a’ as shown in figure is :
(Assume all rods to be of uniform density)
9a 9a
(a) (b)
8 3 16 3
8a
(c) zero (d)
3
MORE THAN ONE CORRECT CHOICE

31. A shell explodes in a region of negligible gravitational field, giving out n fragment of equal mass m.
Then its total
(a) kinetic energy is smaller than before the explosion
(b) kinetic energy is greater than that before the explosion
(c) momentum and kinetic energy depend on n
(d) momentum is equal to that before the explosion.

32. In an elastic collision,

(a) the linear momentum is conserved
(b) the potential energy is conserved
(c) the final kinetic energy is less than the initial kinetic energy
(d) the final kinetic energy is equal to the initial kinetic energy

33. Which of the following are not correct about centre of mass :
(a) It depends on frame of reference
(b) In centre of mass frame momentum of a system is always zero
(c) Internal forces may affect the motion of centre of mass
(d) Centre of mass and centre of gravity are synonymous.
 MISCELLANEOUS ASSIGNMENT
Comprehension-1
In physics we can across many examples of collisions. The molecules of a gas collide with one another
and with the container. The collision of a neutron with an atom is well known. In a nuclear reactor
fast neutrons produced in the fission of uranium atom have to be slowed down. They are, therefore,
made to collide with hydrogen atoms. The term collision does not necessarily mean that a particle or
a body must actually strike another. In fact, two particles may not even touch each other and yet
they are said to collide if one particle influences the motion of the other. When two bodies collide,
each body exerts an equal and opposite force on the other. The fundamental conservation law of
physics are used to determine the velocities of the bodies after the collision. Collision may be elastic
or inelastic. Thus a collision may be defined as an event in which two or more bodies exert relatively
strong forces on each other for a relatively short time. The forces that the bodies exert on each
other are internal to the system.
Almost all the knowledge about the sub-atomic particles such as electrons, protons, neutrons, muons,
quarks, etc. is obtained from the experiments involving collisions.
There are certain collisions called nuclear reactions in which new particles are formed. For example,
when a slow neutron collides with a uranium-235 nucleus, new nuclei baruim-141 and krypton-92 are
formed. This collision is called nuclear fission. In nuclear fusion, two nuclei deuterium and trituim
collide (or fuse) to form a helium nucleus with the emission of a neutron.

1. Which one of the following collisions is not elastic?

(a) A hard steel ball dropped on a hard concrete floor and rebounding to its original height.
(b) Two balls moving in the same direction collide and strick to each other
(c) Collision between molecules of an ideal gas
(d) Collisions of fast neutrons with hydrogen atoms in a fission reactor.

2. Which one of the following statements is true about inelastic collisions?

(a) The total kinetic energy of the particles after collision is equal to that before collision
(b) The total kinetic energy of the particles after collision is less than that before collision.
(c) The total momentum of the particles after collision is less than that before collision.
(d) Kinetic energy and momentum are both conserved in the collision.

3. In elastic collisions
(a) only energy is conserved (b) only momentum is conserved
(c) neither energy nor momentum is conserved (d) both energy and momentum are conserved.
4. Two particles of same mass A & B collides. A is moving with velocity 3m/s where B is at rest. If the
collision is elastic and head on then velocity of B in m/s after collision is
5. A very heavy moving ball with velocity u collides with a light ball at rest head on.The velocity after
collision of light ball is nu. Find the value of n.
6. Two balls of mass m moving with velocities v and 2v in opposite directions collide head on. The move
n 2
together after collision. The loss of K.E of the balls is mv . Find the value of n.
4

7. A body of mass m1 moving with a uniform velocity of 40 m/s collides with another of mass m2 at rest
and then the two together begin to move with a uniform velocity of 30 m/s. Find the ratio of their
masses (m1/ m2)

8. A rubber ball is dropped from a height of 5m on a planet, where acceleration due to gravity is not
known. On bouncing, it rises to 1.8 m. The ball loses its velocity on bouncing by a factor of n/5. Find the
value of n.

9. A body of mass 1 kg strikes elastically another body at rest and continues to move in the same direction
with one fourth the initial velocity. The mass of the other body is n × 10–1 kg. Find the value of n.

10. An object is dropped from a tower of height 20 meter. If rises to a height 10m after collision. The
1
coefficient of restitution of the collision is . Find the value of n.
n

11. A particle of mass 1g having velocity 3iˆ  2ˆj has a glued impact with another particle of mass 2g and
velocity as 4ˆj  6kˆ . Velocity of the formed particle is 2.3 n ms–1. Find the value of n.
1g 2g

vxy vyz v?
12. Ball 1 collides with an another identical ball 2 at rest as shown in figure. The value of coefficient of
restitution e is 1/n. then velocity of second ball becomes two times that of 1 after collision. Find the
value of n.

1 2

13. In the given figure ball A is given a velocity v = gl on a

smooth surface. If A & B are identical and the collision elastic
l
the maximum angle made by string with initial
position is (10n)°. Find the value of n. A

B
 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
IIT-JEE/JEE-ADVANCE QUESTIONS

1. A smooth sphere A is moving on a frictionless horizontal plane with angular speed  and centre of mass
velocity v. It collides elastically and headon with an identical sphere B at rest. Neglect friction every
where. After the collision, their angular speeds are A and B, respectively. Then
(a) A < B (b) A = B (c) A =  (d) B = 

2. A particle is acted by a force F = kx, where k is a +ve constant. Its potential energy at x = 0 is zero.
Which curve correctly represents the variation of potential energy of the block with respect

(a) (b) (c) (d)

3. Two particles A and B initially at rest, move towards each other under a mutual force of attraction. At
the instant when the speed of A is v and the instant when the speed of A is v and the speed of B is 2v,
the speed of the centre of mass of the system is
(a) zero (b) 3 v (c) 1.5 v (d) v

4. Two blocks of masses 10 kg 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 lighter block. The velocity of centre of mass is
(a) 30 m/s (b) 20 m/s (c) 10 m/s (d) 5 m/s

5. A ball hits the floor and rebound after inelastic collision. In this case
(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 conserved.
(d) the total energy of the ball and the earth is conserved.

6. STATEMENT-1 : In an elastic collision between two bodies, the relative speed of the bodies after
collision is equal to the relative speed before collision.
because
STATEMENT-2: In an elastic collision, the linear momentum of the system is conserved.
(a) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is a correct explanation for Statement-1
(b) Statement-1 and 2 is True; 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

7. 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
a a y
(a) (b)
10 8
a a
(c) (d)
12 3 x
8. Two small particles of equal masses start moving in opposite directions
from a point A in a horizontal circular orbit. Their tangential velocities are
v and 2v, respectively, as shown in the figure. Between collisions, the A
V 2V
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?
(a) 4 (b) 3
(c) 2 (d) 1

9. Three object 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.

m 2m m
A B C
10. 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 ms–1. Which of the following statement(s)
is (are) correct for the system of these two masses?
(a) Total momentum of the system is 3 kg ms–1
(b) Momentum of 5 kg mass after collision is 4 kg ms–1
(c) Kinetic energy of the centre of mass is 0.75 J
(d) Total kinetic energy of the system is 4 J

Paragraph for Question 11 to 13

Phase space diagrams are useful tools in analyzing all kinds of dynamical problems. They are especially
useful in studying the changes in motion as initial position and momentum are changed. Here we
consider some simple dynamical systems in one-dimension. For such systems, phase space is a plane in
which position is plotted along horizontal axis and momentum is plotted along vertical axis. The phase
space diagram is x(t) vs. p(t) curve in this plane. The arrow on the curve indicates the time flow.
For example, the phase space diagram for a
particle moving with constant velocity is a
Momentum

straight line as shown in the figure. We use the

sign convention in which position or momentum
upwards (or to right) is positive and downwards
(or to left) is negative. Position
11. The phase space diagram for a ball thrown vertically up from ground is
Momentum

Momentum

(a) (b) Position

Position

Momentum Momentum

(c) Position (d)

Position

Momentum
12. The phase space diagram for simple harmonic
motion is a circle centered at the origin. In the E1

figure, the two circles represent the same oscillator E2

but for different initial conditions, and E1 and E2 2a

are the total mechanical energies respectively. Then

a Position
(a) E1 = 2 E2 (b) E1 = 2E2
(c) E1 = 4 E2 (d) E1 = 16 E2

13. Consider the spring mass system, with the mass submerged in water,
as shown in the figure. The phase space diagram for one cycle of
this system is
Momentum Momentum

(a) Position (b) Position

Momentum Momentum

(c) Position (d) Position

14. A block of mass 0.18 kg is attached to a spring of force-
constant 2N/m. The coefficient of friction between the block
and the floor is 0.1. Initially the block is at rest and the spring
is un-stretched. An impulse is given to the block as shown in
the figure. The block slides a distance of 0.06 m and comes
to rest for the first time. The initial velocity of the block in
m/s is V = N/10. Then N is

15. A particle of mass m is projected from the ground with an initial speed, u0 at an angle  with the
horizontal. At the highest point of its trajectory, it makes a completely inelastic collision with another
identical particle, which was thrown vertically upward from the ground with the same initial speed u0.
The angle that the composite system makes with the horizontal immediately after the collision is
   
(a) (b)  (c)  (d)
4 4 2 2
16. A bob of mass m, suspended by a string of length l1, is given a minimum velocity required to complete
a full circle in the vertical plane. At the highest point, it collides elastically with another bob of mass m
suspended by a string of length l2, which is initially at rest. Both the strings are mass-less and inextensible.
If the second bob, after collision acquires the minimum speed required to complete a full circle in the
l1
vertical plane, the ratio l is
2

DCE QUESTIONS

1. A sphere of mass 8 m collides elastically with a block of mass 2m. If the initial energy of sphere is E.
Final energy of sphere is
(a) 0.8 E (b) 0.36 E (c) 0.08 E (d) 0.64 E

2. A mass m moving with velocity v collides inelastically with a bob of simple pendulum of mass m. The
total height to which the masses will rise after collision is

V2 V2 V2 2 V2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
8g 4g 2g g

3. If a force acts on a body at a point away from the centre of mass, then
(a) Linear acceleration changes (b) Angular acceleration changes
(c) Both change (d) None changes

4. A particle of mass m1 moving with velocity v strikes with a mass m2 at rest, then the condition for
maximum transfer of K.E. is
(a) m1 >> m2 (b) m2 >> m1 (c) m1 = m2 (d) m1 = 2 m2
5. If momentum decreases by 20%, Kinetic Energy will decrease
(a) 40% (b) 36% (c) 18% (d) 8%

6. A mass of 400 g and a mass of 100 g have same K.E., then the ratio of their momentum will be
(a) 2 : 1 (b) 1 : 2 (c) 1 : 3 (d) 3 : 1

7. A ball is dropped from height 20 m. If coefficient of restitution is 0.9, what will be the height attained
after first bounce
(a) 1.62 m (b) 16.2 m (c) 18 m (d) 14 m

AIEEE/JEE-MAINS QUESTIONS

1. A mass m moves with a velocity v and collides inelastically with another identical mass. After collision
v
the 1st mass moves with velocity in a direction perpendicular to the initial direction of motion.
3
Find the speed of the 2nd mass after collision
v/ 3 after
collision
2 v
(a) v (b)
3 3 m m
before collision
(c) v (d) 3v

2. A body A of mass M while falling vertically downwards under gravity breaks into two parts: a body
B of mass 1/3M and a body C of mass 2/3 M. The centre of mass of bodies B and C taken together
shifts compared to that of body A towards
(a) body C (b) body B
(c) depends on height of breaking (d) does not shift

3. A bomb of mass 12 kg explodes into two pieces of masses 4 kg and 8 kg. The velocity of 8 kg mass
is 6 m/s. The kinetic energy of the other mass is
(a) 48 J (b) 32 J (c) 24 J (d) 288 J

4. Consider a two particle system with a particles having masses m1 and m2. If the first particle is pushed
towards the centre of mass through a distance d, by what distance should the second particle be
moved, so as to keep the centre of mass at the same position?

m2 m1 m1
(a) d (b) d (c) d (d) d
m1 m1  m2 m2

5. A body of mass m = 3.513 kg is moving along the x-axis with a speed of 5.00 ms–1. The magnitude
of its momentum is recorded as
(a) 17.565 kg ms–1 (b) 17.55 kg ms–1 (c) 17.57 kg ms–1 (d) 17.6 kg ms–1

6. A block of mass 0.50 kg is moving with a speed of 2.00 ms–1 on a smooth surface. It strikes another
mass of 1.00 kg and then they move together as a single body. The energy loss during the collision is

(a) 1.00 J (b) 0.67 J (c) 0.34 J (d) 0.16 J

7. A thin rod of length L is lying along the x-axis with its ends at x = 0 and x = L. Its linear density
 n
 x
(mass/length) varies with x as k   , where n can be zero or any positive number. If the position
 L
xCM of the centre of mass of the rod is plotted against n, which of the following graphs best
approximates the dependence of xCM on n ?

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

8. Statements-1: Two particles moving in the same direction do not lose all their energy in a completely
inelastic collision.
Statement-2: Principle of conservation of momentum holds true for all kinds of collisions.
(a) Statement-1 is false, Statement-2 is true
(b) Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is false
(c) Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is true, Statement-2 is the correct explanation of Statement-1
(d) Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is true, Statement-2 is not the correct explanation of Statement-1.

9. When a rubber-band is stretched by a distance x, it exerts a restoring force of magnitude F = ax + bx2

where a and b are constants. The work done in stritching the unstretched rubber-band by L is

aL2 bL3 1  aL2 bL3  1

(a)
2

3
(b) 
2 2

3 
 (c) aL2 + bL3 (d)
2
 aL2  bL3 
 BASIC LEVEL ASSIGNMENT
1. A block of mass 10 kg is suspended from a 3 metre long weightless string. A bullet of mass 0.2 kg is fired
into the block horizontally with a speed of 20 m/s and it gets embedded in the block. Calculate
(a) the speed acquired by the block
(b) the maximum displacement of the block
(c) the energy converted to heat in the collision.

2. A projectile of mass 50 kg is shot vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 100 m/sec. After
5 seconds it explodes into two fragments, one of which having mass 20 kg travels vertically up with a
velocity of 150 metres/sec. If g = 9.8 m/s².
(a) What is the velocity of the other fragment at that instant ?
(b) Calculate the sum of the momenta of the two fragments 3 second after the explosion. What would
have been the momentum of the projectile at this instant if there had been no explosion ?

3. Particles P and Q of masses 20 g and 40 g respectively are simultaneously projected from points A and
B on the ground. The initial velocities of P and Q make angles 45º and 135º respectively with line AB.
Each particle has an initial speed of 49 m/s. The separation AB is 245 m. Both particles travel in the
same vertical plane and undergo a collision. After the collision, P retraces its path. Taking g = 9.8 m/s2,
determine
(a) the position of Q when it hits the ground.
(b) How much time, after the collision, does Q take to reach the ground.

4. A shell of mass 500 kg travelling horizontally at a speed of 100 m/s explodes into just three parts. The
first part of mass 200 kg travels vertically upwards at a speed of 150 m/s and the second part of mass
150 kg travels horizontally with a speed of 60 m/s, but in a direction opposite to that of the original shell.
What is the velocity of the third part? What is the path of the centre of mass of the fragments after the
explosion ?

5. A small sphere of mass 10 g is attached to a point of a smooth vertical wall by a light string of length 1
m. The sphere is pulled out in vertical plane perpendicular to the wall so that the string makes an angle
of 60º with the wall and is then released. It is found that after the first rebound, the string makes a
maximum angle of 30º with the wall. Calculate the coefficient of restitution and the loss of kinetic energy
due to impact. If all the energy is converted into heat, find the heat produced by the impact.
6. A small ball A slides down the quadrant of a circle as
shown in the figure and hits the ball B of equal mass
which is initially at rest. Find the velocities of both the
balls after collision. Neglect the effect of friction and
assume the collision to be elastic.

7. Two balls A and B of mass 0.10 kg and 0.25 kg respectively are connected by a stretched spring of
negligible mass and spring constant 2 N/m. Unstretched length of the spring is 0.6 m and placed on a
smooth table. When the balls are released simultaneously the initial acceleration of ball B is 50 cm/s2
west-ward.
(a) What is the magnitude and direction of the initial acceleration of the ball A ?
(b) What is the initial compression of the spring
(c) What is the maximum distance between balls A and B.

8. Find the centre of mass of a uniform disc of radius a from which a circular section of radius b has been
removed. The centre of the hole is at a distance c from, the centre of the disc.

9. A man of mass m climbs a rope of length L suspended below a ballon of mass M. The ballon is stationary
with respect to ground
(a) If the man begins to climb up the rope at a speed vrel (relative to rope) in what direction and with
what speed (relative to ground) will the balloon move ?
(b) How much has the ballon descended when the man reached the ballon by climbing the rope.
(c) What is the state of motion after the man stops climbing ?

10. Prove that in case of oblique elastic collision of two particles of equal mass out of which one is at rest,
the recoiling particles always move off at right angles to each other.

11. 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 trajectory of a point on the rod located at a distance r from the lower end.

12. Two blocks of masses m1 and m2 are connected by a light inextensible string passing over a smooth fixed
pulley of negligible mass. Find the acceleration of the centre of mass of the system when blocks move
under gravity.

13. A block of mas m is resting on the top of a smooth prism of m

mass M which is resting on a smooth table. Calculate the

h
distance moved by the prism when the block reaches M

the bottom.
14. A shell is fired from a cannon with a velocity v m/s at an angle  with the horizontal direction. At the
highest point of its path it explodes into two pieces of equal masses. What is the speed of other piece
immediately after explosion, if one of the piece retraces its path to the cannon ?
15. A particle of mass 4 m which is at rest explodes into three fragments. Two of the fragments each of
mass m are found to move with a speed v each in mutually perpendicular directions. Calculate the
energy released in the process of explosion.

16. A moving particle of mass m makes a head on elastic collision with a particle of mass 2 m which is
initially at rest. Show that the colliding particle losses (8/9)th of its energy after collision.
 ADVANCED LEVEL ASSIGNMENT
1. A plastic ball is dropped from a height of 1 m and rebounds several times from the floor. If 1.3 seconds
elapse from the moment it is dropped to the second impact with the floor, what is the coefficient of
restitution between the ball and the floor.

2. A ball is dropped on the ground from a height h. If the coefficient of resitutution is e, then find the total
distance travelled by the ball before coming to rest and the total time elapsed.

3. A block of mass m1 = 150 kg is at rest on a very long frictionless table, one end of which is terminated in
a wall. Another block of mass m2 is placed between the first block and the wall, and set in motion
towards m1 with constant speed u2.

Assuming that all collisions are completely elastic, find the value of m2 for which both blocks move with
the same velocity after m3 has collided once with m1 and once with the wall. The wall has effectively
infinite mass.

4. A simple pendulum is suspended from a peg on a vertical wall. The pendulum is pulled away from the
wall to a horizontal position and released. The ball hits the wall, the coefficient of restitution being
( 2 / 5 ) . What is the minimum number of collisions after which the amplitude of oscillation becomes
less than 60º.
A 2m
5. A block A of mass 2 m is placed on another block B of mass
B 4m
4 m which in turn is placed on a fixed table. The two blocks m v
2d
have the same length 4 d and they are placed as shown in the CM
d
P
figure. The coefficient of friction (both static and kinetic) 4d
between the block B and the 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 of the block B and perpendicular
to its face with a speed v collides elastically with the block B at a height d above the table.
(a) What is the minimum value of v (call it v0), required to make the block A topple
(b) If v = 2 v0 find the distance (from the point P) at which the mass m falls on the table after collision.

6. A 60 kg man and a 50 kg woman are standing on opposite ends of a platform of mass 20 kg. The
platform is placed on a smooth horizontal ground. The man and the woman begin to approach each other.
Find the displacement of the platform when the two meet in terms of the displacement x0 of the man
relative to the platform. The length of the platform is 6 m.
7. A rope thrown over a pulley has a ladder with a man A on one of its ends and a counterbalancing mass
M on its other end. The man whose mass is m, climb upwards by  r relative to the ladder and the
stops. Ignoring the masses of the pulley and the rope, as well as the friction in the pulley axis, find the
displacement of the centre of mass of this system.

3a
8. A drinking straw of length and mass 2 m is placed on a square table of side ‘a’ parallel to one of
2
its sides such that one third of its length extends beyond the table. An insect of mass m/2 lands on the
inner end of the straw (i.e., the end which lies on the table) and walks along the straw until it reaches
the outer end. It does not topple even when another insect lands on top of the first one. Find the largest
mass of the second insect that can have without toppling the straw. Neglect friction.

9. A boy throws a ball with initial speed 2 ag at an angle  to the horizontal. It strikes a smooth vertical
wall and returns to his hand. Show that if the boy is standing at a distance ‘a’ from the wall, the
1
coefficient of restitution between the ball and the wall equals ( 4 sin 2  – 1) . Also show that cannot
be less than 15º.

10. A ball is projected from a point A on a smooth inclined plane which makes an angle  to the horizontal.
The velocity of projection makes an angle  with the plane upwards. If on the second bounce the ball
is moving perpendicular to the plane, find e in terms of  and . Here e is the coefficient of restitution
between the ball and the plane.

11. Two identical smooth balls are projected towards each other from points A and B on the horizontal
ground with same speed of projection. The angle of projection in each case is 30º. The distance between
A and B is 100 m. The balls collide in air and return to their respective points of projection. If coefficient
of restitution is e = 0.7, find
(a) the speed of projection of either ball
(b) coordinates of point with respect to A where the balls collide.
(Take g = 10 m/s2 )

12. Three identical particles A, B and C lie on a smooth horizontal table. Light inextensible strings which
are just taut connect AB and BC and ABC is 135º. An impulse J is applied to the particle C in the
direction BC. Find the initial speed of each particle. The mass of each particle is m.
J
135º C
B
A
13. A 2 kg sphere A is connected to a fixed point O by an inextensible cord A
of length 1.2 m. The sphere is resting on a frictionless horizontal surface

m
2
1.
at a distance of 0.5 m from O when it is given a velocity v0 in a direction
v0
perpendicular to the line OA. It moves freely until it reaches position A O A
0.5 m
when the cord becomes taut. Determine
(a) the maximum allowable velocity v0 if the impulse of the force exerted on the cord is not to exceed
3 N-s
(b) the loss of energy as the cord becomes taut, if the sphere is given the maximum allowable velocity v0.

14. An open car of mass 1000 kg and running at 25 m/s holds three men each of mass 75 kg. Each man
runs with a speed of 5 m/s relative to the car and jumps off from the back end. Find the speed of the
car if the three men jump off
(a) in succession (b) all together. Neglect friction between the car and the ground.
C
15. Ball B is hanging from an inextensible cord BC. An identical ball A is released
A
from rest when it is just touching the cord and acquires a velocity v0 before
striking ball B. Assuming perfectly elastic impact (e = 1) and no friction,
v0
determine the velocity of each ball immediately after impact.
B

16. A particle whose initial mass is m0 is projected vertically upwards at time t = 0 with speed gT, where
T is a constant. The particle gradually acquires mass on its way up and at time t the mass of the particle
has increased to m0 et/T. If the added mass is at rest relative to the particle when it is acquired, find the
time when the particle is at highest point and its mass at that instant.

17. Two blocks of mass 2 kg and M are at rest on an inclined plane and
M
are separated by a distance of 6.0 m as shown. The coefficient of m
g .0
2k 6
friction between each block and the inclined plane is 0.25. The 2 kg

block 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 collison 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/s2]

18. A small sphere of radius R is held against the inner surface of larger
sphere of radius 6 R (as shown in the figure). The masses of large
and small spheres are 4 M and M respectively. This arrangement 6R
M
is placed on a horizontal table. There is no friction between any X
(L,0) R
surfaces of contact. The small sphere is now released. Find the 4M

coordinates of the centre of the larger sphere, when the smaller

sphere reaches the other extreme position.
19. A block of mass m rests on a wedge of mass M which in turn rests
on a horizontal table (figure). All the surfaces are smooth and the m

system is at rest initially. Find the velocity of the wedge at the instant
V M
when the block after sliding on the wedge touches the table.


20. Two smooth spheres A and B, of equal radius but of masses m and M, are free to move on a horizontal
table. A is projected with speed u towards B which is at rest. After impact, the line joining their centres
is inclined at an angle  to the direction of velocity of A before impact.
(a) If e is the coefficient of restitution between the spheres, find the speed with which B begins to
move.
e M m
(b) If A’s path after impact is perpendicular to its path before impact, show that tan 2   .
M m
 ANSWERS

Objective Questions

1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (c)

6. (d) 7. (a) 8. (b) 9. (c) 10. (c)
11. (c) 12. (a) 13. (b) 14. (c) 15. (b)
16. (c) 17. (d) 18. (d) 19. (a) 20. (a)
21. (c) 22. (c) 23. (b) 24. (d) 25. (a)
26. (a) 27. (b) 28. (a) 29. (b) 30. (b)
31. (b,d) 32. (a,d) 33. (a,c,d)

Miscellaneous Assignment
1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (d) 4. (3) 5. (2)
6. (9) 7. (3) 8. (3) 9. (6) 10. (2)
11. (2) 12. (3) 13. (3)

Previous Year Questions

IIT-JEE/JEE-ADVANCE QUESTIONS
1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (c) 5. (c)
6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (c) 9. 4 10. (a,c)
11. (d) 12. (c) 13. (b) 14. (4) 15. (a)
16. (5)
DCE QUESTIONS
1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (a)
6. (a) 7. (b)
MAINS QUESTIONS
1. (a) 2. (d) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (d)
6. (b) 7. (c) 8. (c) 9. (a)
Basic Level Assignment

1. (a) 0.39 m/s (b) 0.217 m (c) 39.2 J 2. 15 m/s, 1080 kg.m.s. 1080 kg m.s.

3. (a) 122.5 m (b) 5 2 second. 4. 440 m/s, –27º

5. 0.518, 0.0359 J, 0.0085 cals. 6. v1 = 0, v2 = 1.4 m/s

7. (a) 20 cm/s2 (eastwards) (b) 25 cm (c) 85 cm
2
cb
8. At a distance 2 2 from O on the other side of the hole.
a b
m
9. (a) – mvrel /(M  m) (b) L. (c) System is stationary
M m
2 2
x y
11. (a) Straight line (b) 2
 2 1
[L / 2  r] r
2
 m1  m2  m h cot 
12.   g 13.
 m1  m2  M m

3 2
14. 3v cos  15. mv
2

Advanced Level Assignment

h(1  e 2 ) 2h 1  e 
1. e = 0.94 2. 2 , g 1  e 
1 e
3. 50 kg 4. 4
5
5. (a) 6gd (b) 6d 4 6. (11x0 – 30) / 13
2
m
7. r 8. 5m
2M
1
10. cot  cos   1
2
2J 10 J 3 J
11. (a) 37.5 m (b) (50 m, 17 m) 12. , ,
7m 7m 7m
13. (a) 1.65 m/s (b) 2.25 J 14. (a) 25.981 m/s (b) 25.981 m/s
1
vA
15. | v'A |  0.721v0 , | v'B |  0.693 v0 16. Tln (2), 2m0
16.1º

17. 0.84, 15.12 kg 18. (L + 2R, 0)

1
 2m 2 gh cos 2  2 (1  e) mu cos 
19.  2  20.
mM
 ( M  m ) ( M  m sin ) 