PHYSICS

General Physics I (PHYS 101)

Ganesh Kuwar Chhetri

Dept. of Physics, School of

Science, Kathmandu University
COMPUTER
ENGINEERING April 18 & 21, 2021
& Sunday, Wednesday
CIVIL
ENGINEERING

1
 Course Outline

• Work Energy Theorem

• Conservative and Non-Conservative Forces

DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

• Conservative Force as Negative Gradient of Potential Energy

PARTICLES

• Work Done by Conservative & Non-Conservative Forces

• Linear Momentum

• Centre of Mass

• Conservation of Linear Momentum in System of Particles

2
 Work –Energy Theorem

Kinetic Energy Work-Energy Theorem

• Kinetic energy K is energy associated with the state of motion of • The net work done by the forces acting on a body
an object. is equal to the change in the kinetic energy of the
body:
• For an object of mass m whose speed is well below the speed of
light, Wnet = K = K f − K i
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

1
K = m v2 ( kinetic energy )
2
Example
PARTICLES

• The faster the object moves, the greater is its kinetic energy. • Equal amount of work are performed on two
bodies, A and B, initially at rest, and of masses M
• It is a scalar quantity.
and 2M respectively. Find the relation between
• The SI unit of kinetic energy is the joule (J). their speeds immediately after the work has been
done on them.
• Kinetic energy can never be negative.
Hint: A
Wnet B
=Wnet
1 1
or M A vA 2 − 0 = M B v B 2 − 0
1 1 P2 2 2
Kinetic Energy : K = m v = m v  v =
2

2 2 2m or Mv A 2 = 2Mv B 2
 vA = 2 v B
3
 Work –Energy Theorem

Work-Energy Theorem with a Constant Force

• Let a constant net force Fnet acts on a body of mass m. As the body • The net work done by the constant net force is
moves through displacement ,s, this net force causes its velocity to
change from vi to v f .
Wnet = Fnet  s
s
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

 v − vi   v f + vi 
=m  f    t
Fnet  t   2 
1
= m ( v f − vi )  ( v f + vi ) 
PARTICLES

2
1 1
= mv f 2 − mvi 2
Figure WE-1 2 2
= K f − Ki
• According to Newton’s second law,
 Wnet = K
Fnet = ma
 v − vi  s v f + vi
= m f .......... (1) v av = =
  t 
 t 2
where t is the time interval for the body  v + vi 
s = f  t
4 to move through the displacement s.  2 
 Work –Energy Theorem

Work-Energy Theorem with a Variable Force

• Consider a body of mass m, moving along an axis and acted on by • The net work done by the net variable force Fnet,x is
a net force Fnet,x that is directed along that axis.
• As the body moves through displacement s , this net force causes Wnet =  Fnet,x dx
its speed to change from vi to vf .
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

dv x
v ix v fx =  mv x dx
Fnet,x dx
=  mv x dv x
PARTICLES

i f • The variable of integration is now the velocity v x .

Figure WE-2 Let us integrate from initial velocity vix to final
velocity v f x :
vfx vfx
• According to Newton’s second law,
dv x dv dx
Wnet =  mv
v ix
x dv x = m  v x dv x
v ix
Fnet,x = max = m =m x
1 
= m  ( v fx 2 − vix 2 ) 
dt dx dt
dv x 2 
=m vx
dx 1 1
= mv fx 2 − mvix 2 = K f − K i
dv x 2 2
 Fnet,x = mv x .......... (1)
5 dx  Wnet = K
 Sample Problem

• An ideal spring S can be compressed 1.0 meter by a force of 100 N. This same spring is placed at the bottom of a
frictionless inclined plane which makes an angle of  = 30 with horizontal as shown in Figure SP-1. A 10-kg mass M is
released from rest at the top of the incline and is brought to rest momentarily after compressing the spring 2.0
meters.
(a) Through what distance does the mass slide before coming to rest? M
(b) What is the speed of the mass just before it reaches the spring?
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

S

Hint: F 100 N
Spring constant of the spring, k = = = 100 N/m
x 1m Figure SP-1
PARTICLES

(a) Let ‘d’ be the required distance through which the mass slides before coming to rest.
According to the work-energy theorem,
Wnet = K (b) Let ‘Vf ’ be the speed of the mass just before it reaches the
or Wg + Ws + WN = K spring.
1 According to the work-energy theorem,
or mg sin d − kx 2 + 0 = 0
2 Wnet = K f − K i
1 2 1
100  ( 2 )
2
kx 1 1
or Wg +WN = mv f 2 − mvi 2
 d= 2 = 2 =4m 2 2
mg sin 10  9.8  sin300
1
or mgsin (d − x) + 0 = mv f 2 − 0
2
6  v f = 2  9.8  sin 300  ( 4 − 2 )
= 4.5 m/s
 Potential Energy

Potential Energy • The difference in potential energy between any

• The potential energy U is energy associated with the two locations xi and xf for a particle on which
configuration of a system in which a conservative force acts. force Fx ( x) acts is calculated by
xf

Configuration: Configuration means how the parts of a system U ( xf ) − U ( xi ) = −  Fx ( x)dx

DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

are located or arranged with respect to one xi

another. • The difference in potential energy between any

For example: two location for a particle on which force acts is
The compression or stretching of the spring in calculated by
PARTICLES

x
the block- spring system
U ( x) − U ( x0 ) = −  Fx ( x)dx
The height of the ball in the ball-Earth system
x0
• The potential energy is a function of position whose negative
derivative gives the force: Example
dU ( x)
Fx ( x) = − A particle of mass m moves in one dimensional
dx motion in a region where its potential energy is
given by U(x) =
A B.
• When the conservative force does work W on a particle within the −
x3 x
system, the change in the potential energy of the system is
dU ( x) d  A B
The force F=− =−  3 − 
U = U f − U i = −W dx dx  x x
7 on the particle 3A B
= 4 − 2
x x
 Sample Problem

The potential energy function for the force between two atoms in a diatomic molecule can be expressed approximately as
follows:
a b
U ( x) = − ,
x12 x 6
where a and b are positive constants and
(a) At what values of x x
is the distance between atoms.
is U ( x) equal to zero? At what values of x
is aU ( x) minimum?
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

(b) Determine the force between the atoms.

(c) What is the dissociation energy of the molecule?
Hint:
(a) a b x at which (b) dU ( x) d  a b
− =0
The values of U ( x) is a minimum Fx ( x) = − = −  12 − 6 
PARTICLES

x12 x 6 is found from  dU ( x)  dx dx  x x 

  =0
a b  dx  x = xm 12a 6b
= 13 − 7
or =
x12 x 6 That is, x x
1
12a 6b
a 6 − + =0 (c) Dissociation Energy
 x=  xm13 xm 7
b Ed = U ( x = ) − U ( x = xm ) = −U ( x = xm )
2a
or xm 6 =
U ( x) also becomes zero b a b a b
=− + = − +
as x→ xm12 xm 6  2a   2a 
2

   b 
 b 
1
 2a  6
 xm =  
8  b   Ed =
b2
4a
 Gravitational and Elastic Potential Energy

Gravitational Potential Energy

• The potential energy associated with a system consisting of Earth and a nearby particle is gravitational potential energy.
• If the particle moves from height y to height y , the change
i j
in the gravitational potential energy of the particle-Earth system is
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

yf yf

U = U (y f ) − U (yi ) = −  Fy (y) dy = −  (− mg ) dy = mg ( yf − yi )
yi yi
Elastic Potential Energy
PARTICLES

• If the reference point of the particle is set as y0 = 0 [at the surface of the earth]
and the corresponding gravitational potential of the system is set as U ( y0 ) = 0 • Elastic potential energy is the energy
associated with the state of compression
then the gravitational potential energy when the particle is at a height is or extension of an elastic object.
y y • For a spring that exerts a spring force
U (y) = −  Fy (y) dy = −  (− mg )dy F = −k x when its free end has
0 0 displacement x, the elastic potential
energy is
U ( y ) = mgy U ( x) =
1
k x2
2
• The reference configuration has the
spring at its relaxed length, at which
9 x = 0 and U = 0 .
 Conservative and Non-Conservative Forces

Conservative Forces
• A force is conservative if the work done by the force on a
particle that moves through a round trip is zero.

 F  ds = 0
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

• The work done by a conservative force on a particle that

moves between two points depends only on these points Non-Conservative Forces
PARTICLES

and not on the path followed.

• A force is non-conservative if the work
• Examples: The force of gravity, The electrostatic force, done by the force on a particle that moves
The spring force through a round trip is not zero.

 F  ds  0
• The work done by a non-conservative on a
particle that moves between two points
depends on the path taken between those
points.
• Examples: The frictional force,
10 The viscous force
 Conservative Force and Non-Conservative Forces

Path independence of conservative forces

b a
• Suppose a particle, acted on by a conservative force,
moves from a to b along the path 1 and back from
or, a
F  ds + 
b
F  ds = 0
path 1 path 2
b to a along path 2 as shown in Figure C-1. b a
or, a
F  ds = − 
b
F  ds
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

path 1 path 2

b b
or, a
F  ds = 
a
F  ds
path 1 path 2
PARTICLES

Figure C-1  Wab ,1 = Wab,2

The net work done by a conservative force on a
particle moving around any closed path is zero.
That is,
Wab ,1 + Wba,2 = 0
where Wab ,1 → the work done by the force when the particle
moves from a to b along path 1 The work done by a
conservative force on a
Wba ,2 → the work done by the force when the particle
particle moving between two
moves from b to a along path 2 points does not depend on the
path taken by the particle.
11
 Conservative Forces

The Force of Gravity The Spring Force

• Figure C-2 shows an example of a system consisting of a Figure 12-1 shows a block of mass m attached
ball acted on by the Earth’s gravity. to a spring of force constant k; the block slides
without friction across a horizontal surface.

Ws = − k ( xf 2 − xi 2 )
1
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

The total work done

PARTICLES

on the ball by the

force of gravity and
by the spring force
on the block for the
round trip is zero

Figure C-2 A ball is thrown upward against the Earth’s gravity.

In (a) it is just leaving its starting point, in (b) it has reached
the top of its trajectory, and in (c) it has returned to its original
12 height. The work done by the Earth’s gravity between the pairs
of successive positions is shown in the boxes at the bottom.
 Non- Conservative Force

The Frictional Force

• Figure C-3 shows a disk of mass m on the end of a thin but rigid rod of length R.
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF
PARTICLES

Figure C-3 A disk moves with friction in a circle on a horizontal surface. The positions shown represent
(a) an arbitrary starting point A, (b) one half revolution later (at B), and (c) another half
revolution later (back at A).
The work done by friction between successive positions is indicated in the boxes at the
bottom.

The total work done by the frictional force on the disk is not zero for
the round trip , but instead has the negative value −2 Wf .

13
 Conservative Force as Negative Gradient of Potential Energy

Conservative Force as Negative Gradient of Potential Energy F = −U

• If a particle acted upon by a conservative force F moves from space point ( x0 , y0 , z0 ) described by the position vector r0 , to
another space point ( x, y, z ) described by the position vector r is
r
U ( r ) = −  F  dr U
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

.......... (1) = − Fx
r0 x
where r0 refers to the position of zero potential energy.
PARTICLES

• Expressing F and dr in rectangular co-ordinates, we have Differentiating the equation (2) partially with
respect to x, y , z , we get
F  dr = ( F iˆ + F ˆj + F kˆ )  ( dxiˆ + dyjˆ + dzkˆ )
x y z
Fx = −
U
, Fy = −
U
and Fz = −
U
= Fx dx + Fy dy + Fz dz Now, x y z
r
F = Fx iˆ + Fy ˆj + Fz kˆ = iF ˆ
ˆ x + ˆjFy + kF
 U ( r ) = −  F  dr
z

r0  U
= iˆ  −

+ ˆj  − U  ˆ  U 
+ k − 
r  x   y   z 
= −  ( Fx dx + Fy dy + Fz dz )     
= −  iˆ + ˆj + kˆ  U = −U
 x y z 
r0
x y z
14 = −  Fx dx −  Fy dy −  Fz dz .......... (2)  F = −U = −grad U
x0 y0 z0
 Sample Problem

• A force acting on a particle moving in the plane is given by F=(2yˆi+x 2 ˆj ) N , where x and y are in meters. The
particle moves from the origin to a final position having coordinates x = 5.00 m and y = 5.00 m and as shown in
Figure Cc. Calculate the work done by on the particle as it moves along
(a)OAC, (b) OBC, and (c) OC. (d) Is conservative or nonconservative? Explain
Hint:
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

(a) 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00

WOAC = WOA + WAC =  ( 2 yiˆ + x ˆj )  dxiˆ +  ( 2 yiˆ + x ˆj )  dyjˆ =  2 y dx +  x dy
2 2 2

0 0 0 0
PARTICLES

5.00
= 0+ x 2
 dy  Along the path OA, y = 0, So WOA = 0
0

= ( 5 ) ( y ) 0  = 125 J
Fig. P7-33
2 5.00

 
5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00

 ( 2 yiˆ + x ˆj )  dy ˆj +  ( 2 yiˆ + x ˆj )  dx iˆ = 
(b)
WOBC = WOB + WBC = x dy +  2 ydx
2 2 2

0 0 0 0

 5.00 
= 0 + 2 y   dx   Along the path OB, x = 0, So WOB = 0
0 
=10 ( x ) 0  = 50J
5.00
15  
 Sample Problem

• A force acting on a particle moving in the plane is given by F=(2yˆi+x 2 ˆj ) N , where x and y are in meters. The
particle moves from the origin to a final position having coordinates x = 5.00 m and y = 5.00 m and as shown in
Figure Cc. Calculate the work done by on the particle as it moves along
(a)OAC, (b) OBC, and (c) OC. (d) Is conservative or nonconservative? Explain
Hint:
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

(c) ( )( )
WOC =  F  dS =  2 yiˆ + x 2 ˆj  dx iˆ + dy ˆj =  ( 2 ydx + x 2 dy )

=  ( 2 xdx + x 2 dx )  Along the path OC, x = y, So dx=dy 

PARTICLES

5.00
=  ( 2 x + x ) dx
2

o Fig. P7-33

5.00
 2 x3 
= x + 
 3 0
125
=25 J + J = 66.7J
3

(d) WOAC  WOBC  WOC

The work done is path dependent.
16
So F is non-conservative.
 Total Work Done by Conservative and Non-Conservative Forces

Total Work Done by Conservative Force Total Work Done by Non-Conservative Force
• Consider an isolated system in which only • Consider an isolated system in which conservative forces and
conservative forces act. non-conservative forces act.

According to work-energy theorem: According to work-energy theorem:

DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

The net work done by the forces acting on a The net work done by the forces acting on a body is
body is equal to the change in the kinetic energy of equal to the change in the kinetic energy of the body.
the body. Wnet = K
Wnet = K or, W1 + W2 + ... + Wn = K
PARTICLES

or, W1 + W2 + ... + Wn = K or, W + W

c nc = K
or, W c = K where  W c is the total work done
where  Wc is the total work done on the particle on the particle by conservative forces
by conservative forces W nc is the total work done
or, W = −U  K + U = 0
c by non-conservative forces
or, − U +  Wnc = K  W = −U 
 W = − U = Negative Change in potential energy
c
c

In an isolated system in which only conservative


W nc = K + U
forces act, the total mechanical energy remains
constant. = change in total mechanical energy
17 K + U = constant
 Principle of Conservation of Energy

Principle of Conservation of Energy

• Consider an isolated system in which conservative forces and non-conservative forces act.
According to work-energy theorem:
The net work done by the forces acting on a body is equal to the change in the kinetic energy of the body.
Wnet = K
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

or, W1 + W2 + ... + Wn = K
or, W + W
c nc = K where  Wc is the total work done on the particle
PARTICLES

by conservative forces
W nc is the total work done by non-conservative
forces
  Wc = −U , − Wnc = Q 
 
or, − U − Q = K  where Q is the other forms of energy 
 (heat, sound, light etc.) except mechanical energy 
 
or, K + U + Q = 0
 K + U + Q = constatnt
Energy may be transformed from one kind to
another, but it cannot be created or destroyed;
The total energy – kinetic plus potential plus other forms the total energy is constant.
18
does not change. This is the principle of conservation of energy.
 Collision

Collision

• A collision is an isolated event in which two or more bodies [the colliding bodies] exert relatively strong forces on each
other for a relatively short time.
• In collision of all kinds, momentum is always conserved.
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

Examples:
• A bat strikes a base ball.
• A cat walks delicately through the grass.
PARTICLES

• The deflection suffered by an alpha particle in passing close to a nucleus.

• Neutrons hitting atomic nuclei in a nuclear reactor.

Classifying collision:

• Elastic: A collision in which kinetic energy is conserved.

• Inelastic: A collision in which the total kinetic energy decreases.
• Completely Inelastic: An inelastic collision in which the colliding bodies have a common final velocity.

19
 Linear Momentum

Linear Momentum
• The linear momentum P of a body is defined as the product of its mass and its velocity: P = mv
• It is a vector quantity.
• The SI unit of linear momentum is kg m s −1 .
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

• Newton’s second law in terms of momentum:

The rate of change of momentum of a body is equal to the resultant force acting on the body and is
in the direction of that force.
PARTICLES

dP
 dt
F=

Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum

When the net external force acting on a system is zero, the total linear momentum of the system remains constant.

P = constant ( closed, isolated system )

,
For a closed, isolated system
Pi = Pf
 total linear momentum   total linear momentum 
20   =  
 at some initial time ti   at some later time tf 
 Impulse and Impulse Momentum Theorem

Impulse
• The impulse of the net force, denoted by J net is defined to be the product of the net force and the time interval:
J net =  F ( t2 − t1 ) =  F t

where is  F the constant net force acting on a particle during a time interval t from t1 to t 2
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

• If the net force  F varies in magnitude and acts on a particle from a time t i to t f , then the impulse of the net force is
tf

J net =   F dt
PARTICLES

ti

• SI unit of impulse - newton-second

Impulse Momentum Theorem

dP
• Newton’s second law in terms of momentum: F = dt
..........(1)

Integrating both sides of Eq. (1) over time between the limits t i to t f , we get
tf tf t
F t =mvf − mvi
f
dP  J net = P
t  F dt = t dt dt = t dP = Pf − Pi
i i i

21 The impulse of the net force acting on a particle during a given time interval is equal to the change in
momentum of the particle during that interval
.
 Sample Questions

• If you know the impulse that has acted on a body of mass m you can calculate
[a] its initial velocity.
[b] its final velocity.
[c] its final momentum.
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

[d] the change in its velocity. 

• A 0.28 kg stone you throw rises 34.3 m in the air. The magnitude of the impulse the stone received from your
PARTICLES

hand while being thrown is

[a] 0.27 N . s [b] 2.7 N . s [c] 7.3 N . S  [d] 9.6 N . s

• A 3.00 kg stone is dropped from a 39.2 m high building. When the stone has fallen 19.6 m, the magnitude of
the impulse it has received from the gravitational force is 58.8 N S.
Hint: Impulse-Momentum Theorem
J net = mv − mu
= m 2 gh − 0
= 3.00 2  9.8 19.6
22
= 58.8 N S
 Centre of Mass

Centre of Mass

• The center of mass of a system of particles is the point that moves as though (1) all of the system’s mass were concentrated
there and (2) all external forces were applied there.
• Suppose we have a system of particles p1 , p2 ,..., pN with masses m1 , m2 ,..., mN , and position vectors r1 , r2 ,..., rN
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

respectively. Then, the centre of mass of S is the point of space whose position vector rcm is defined by
N N

m r m r
i i i i
For two particle system,
m1r1 + m1r2
rcm = i =1
= i =1
PARTICLES

rcm =
m1 + m2
N

 mi
M
i =1  m1 x1 + m2 x2 m1 y1 + m2 y2 
( xcm , ycm ) =  , 
where  m + m m + m 
M is the total mass of the system S. 1 2 1 2

The centre of mass of a system of particles is a mass-weighted average position of the particles.
Centre of mass of Solid Objects
First Moment of Mass for the system of particles
1
rcm =
M  r dm
m ri i &  r dm
i
23 • The centre of mass of the rigid body may or may not lie within the body.
 Centre of Mass

Centre of Mass of a Homogeneous Semicircular Plate

• Let us consider a homogenous semicircular plate of radius R and mass M as shown in Figure S-1.

Put,
The homogeneous semicircular plate has rotational
R2 − y2 = t 2
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

symmetry about the y-axis so that the centre of mass

must lie on the y-axis.  −2 ydy = 2tdt

Consider a thin strip of mass of this homogeneous  ydy = −tdt

PARTICLES

semicircular plate. when y = 0, then t = R

when y = R, then t = 0
Area of the thin strip, da = 2 x dy Figure S-1 R
4
Mass of the thin strip, dm =
M
 R2
2 x dy =
4M
x dy  ycm =
 R2  R 2 − y 2 ydy
 R2 0
2 0 R
4 4
= 2 
t ( −tdt ) = 2 
t 2 dt
• The centre of mass of homogeneous semicircular plate is given by R R R 0
 4M 
R
1 1 4 4 4 R3 4 R
ycm =
M  y dm =
M  y  2 x dy  =
 R  R
2 
y x dy = 2 
R 0
y R 2 − y 2 dy = =
 R 2 3 3

Thus, the centre of mass of the homogeneous semicircular plate lies on

24 the y-axis at a
4R
distance of from origin.
3
 Motion of the Centre of Mass

Motion of the Centre of Mass

• Suppose we have a system S of particles p1 , p2 ,..., pN with masses m1 , m2 ,..., mN , and position vectors r1 , r2 ,..., rN respectively.
Then, the position vector of centre of mass of the system S is given by
N N
The velocity of the centre of mass is
constant in the absence of external
m r m r forces.
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

i i i i
rcm = i =1
N
= i =1
where M is the total mass of the system. This is a remarkable property of the
m
M centre of mass.
i
i =1 Differentiating Eq. (2) with respect to time,
PARTICLES

1 we get the acceleration of the centre of mass:

 rcm =  m1r1 + m1r2 + ... + mN rN  .......... (1) dv
M acm = cm
dt
• Differentiating Eq.(1) with respect to time, we get the velocity of the centre of mass:  dv dv dv 
=  m1 1 + m1 2 + ... + mN N 
drcm 1  dr1 dr2 drN   dt dt dt 
v cm = = m1 + m1 + ... + mN
M  dt dt  1 N  1 N 
  mi ai  = M   Fi 
dt dt =
1 M  i =1   i =1 
 v cm =  m1v1 + m1v2 + ... + mN v N  ............ (2)
M  Macm =  Fext
N N
 M v cm =  mi vi where m v i i is the total momentum of the system. This states that the centre of mass of a system of
i =1 i =1
particles moves as though all the mass of the
system were concentrated at the centre of mass
25 In the absence of external forces, the total momentum is constant,
and all external forces were applied at that point.
so that v cm = constant .
 Conservation of Momentum in a System of Particles

Conservation of Momentum in a System of Particles

• Suppose we have a system S of particles p1 , p2 ,..., pN with masses m1 , m2 ,..., mN , and move with velocities v1 , v 2 ,..., v N and
momenta p1 , p 2 ,..., p N respectively.
The total momentum of the system S is given by
N N
P =  p n = p1 + p 2 + ... + p N = m1v1 + m1v 2 + ... + mN v N =  mi vi
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

i =1 i =1

P = MVcm where M is the total mass of the system. M v cm =  mi vi

PARTICLES

i =1
………… (1)
The total momentum of a system of particles is equal to the product of the total mass of a system and the velocity of its center of
mass.
• Differentiating Eq. (1) with respect to time, we get
Macm =  Fext
dP dV
= M cm = Macm =  Fext
dt dt dP
• Newton’s second law for a system of particles:  Fext = dt
.......... (2)
Equation (2) states that, in a system of particles, the net external force equals the rate of change of the linear momentum of the
system.
If the net external force acting on a system is zero, then dP = 0 and so the total linear momentum P of the
26 system remains constant. dt
 Sample Problems

• Three particles are placed in the xy plane. A 30-g particle is located at (3, 4) m, and 40-g particle is located at
(-2,-2) m. Where a 20-g particle must be placed so that the centre of mass of the three-particle system is at
the origin?
Ans: ( x, y ) = (−0.5, −2) m
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

• Two bodies are moving along same direction with acceleration a1 and a2 respectively. Both of them are acted
by equal forces. Find acceleration of the centre of mass of the system?
Hint:
PARTICLES

m1a1 + m2 a2 2a a a2
acm = = 1 2 F1 = F2  m1 = m2
m1 + m2 a1 + a2 a1

• Three forces of magnitudes 50N, 40N, 20N are directed along + ve x-axis, +ve y-axis and –ve x-axis
respectively. These forces are acted on the bodies of masses 2 kg, 3 kg, and 5 kg respectively. Find the
magnitude of acceleration of centre of mass of the system.
Hint:
 Fext ( F ) + ( F ) ( F1x + F2 x + F3 x ) + ( F1 y + F2 y + F3 y )
2 2 2 2
ext , x ext ,y
acm = = =
M M M
( 50 + 0 − 20 ) + ( 0 + 40 + 0 )
2 2
27 = = 5 m s −2
2+3+5
 Sample Problem

• A projectile is fired from a gun at an angle of 450 with the horizontal and with a muzzle speed of 457.2 m s −1 .
At the highest point in its flight the projectile explodes into two fragments of equal mass. One fragment,
whose initial speed is zero, falls vertically. How far from the gun does the other fragment land, assuming a level
terrain?
Hint:
DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

Let the mass of the projectile be 2m.

Since there is no external force, centre of mass follows the true trajectory.
We have,
PARTICLES

mA x A + mB xB
xcm = u
mA + mB
 2 xcm = x A + xB [ mA = mB = m] 
 xB = 2 xcm − x A
 u 2 sin 2 
 xcm = Range =  Figure C-1
u 2 sin 2  u sin    g 
= 2 − u cos   
The dashed line shows the parabolic trajectory
g  g    u sin   of the center of mass of the two fragments.
 x A = u x t = u cos   
  g  
( 457.2 )
2
sin 900 0  457.2sin 45 
0
= 2 − 457.2  cos 45  
9.8  9.8 
28 = 4.27  104 m − 1.11 104
= 3.16 104 m
 References

1. R.A. Serway and J.W. Jewett, Physics for Scientist and Engineers with Modern Physics

2. Halliday and Resnick, Fundamental of Physics

DYNAMICS OF SYSTEM OF

3. D. Halliday, R. Resnick, and K. Krane , Physics,Volume 2, Fourth Edition

PARTICLES

4. Hugh D.Young, Roger A. Freedman, University Physics with Modern Physics, 13TH Edition

29