Two bodies of mass $1 \mathrm{~kg}$ and $3 \mathrm{~kg}$ have position vectors $\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}+\hat{k}$…

Two bodies of mass $1 \mathrm{~kg}$ and $3 \mathrm{~kg}$ have position vectors $\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}+\hat{k}$ and $-3 \hat{i}-2 \hat{j}+\hat{k}$, respectively. The centre of mass of this system has a position vector
  1. $-2 \hat{i}+2 \hat{k}$
  2. $-2 \hat{\mathrm{i}}-\hat{\mathrm{j}}+\hat{\mathrm{k}}$
  3. $2 \hat{i}-\hat{j}-2 \hat{k}$
  4. $-\hat{i}+\hat{j}+\hat{k}$

Solution

The position vector of centre of mass $\begin{aligned} \vec{r} & =\frac{m_1 \overrightarrow{r_1}+m_2 \vec{r}_2}{m_1+m_2} \\ & =\frac{1(\hat{i}+2 \hat{j}+\hat{k})+3(-3 \hat{i}-2 \hat{j}+\hat{k})}{1+3} \\ & =\frac{1}{4}(-8 \hat{i}-4 \hat{j}+4 \hat{k}) \\ & =-2 \hat{i}-\hat{j}+\hat{k} \end{aligned}$ The centre of mass changes its position only under the translatory motion. There is no effect of rotatory motion on centre of mass of the body.

Asked in: NEET 2009 (Screening)

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