An isolated particle of mass m is moving in the 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

Question

Aicharya · Accepted Answer

Before the explosion, the particle was moving along

x

-axis i.e., it has no

y

-component of velocity. Therefore, the centre of mass will not move in

y

-direction or we can say

y_{cm} = 0

.

Now,

y_{cm} = \frac{m_{1} y_{1} + m_{2} y_{2}}{m_{1} + m_{2}}

Therefore,

0 = \frac{(m / 4) (+ 15) + (3 m / 4) (y)}{(m / 4 + 3 m / 4)}

or,

y = - 5 cm

An isolated particle of mass m is moving in the horizontal plane x , y along the x -axis, at a certain…

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