1

System of particles and rotational motion

Most important questions & answers
Question (1): What is meant by centre of mass? Derive and expression for centre of
mass of a system of n particles (or 2 particles)

Consider a system of two particles P1 and P2 of masses m1 and m2. Let 𝑟⃗1 and 𝑟⃗2 be their position
vectors at any instant t with respect to the origin O, as shown in Fig.

Let m1,m2 be masses of two particles

let r1,r2 be position vectors of particles
let f1,f2 be external forces on particles
Let v1, v 2 be velocities of particles
Let F12 ,F21 be internal forces on particles (due to each other)

According’s to Newton’s second law:

    d  
f1  f2  F12  F21   m1v1  m2 v 2 
dt
 
 dr1  dr 2
As v1  and v 2 
dt dt
 
    d  dr1 dr 2 
f1  f2  F12  F21   m1  m2 
dt  dt dt 
 
But F12   F21 so they will cancel out
  d2  
f1  f2  2  m1r1  m2 r2 
dt
Multiply and divide L.H.S by m1 + m2 we get
 
  d2  m1r1  m2 r2 
f1  f2   m1  m2  2
dt m1  m2 
 
Let f  f1  f2
 
 d2  m1r1  m2 r2 
f   m1  m2  2
dt  m1  m2 
 2

 d2 
Comparing this equation with f   m1  m2  2 Rcm , we get
dt
 
  m1r1  m2 r2 
Rcm 
m1  m2 
Centre of mass of an n particle system
   
  m1r1  m2 r2  m3 r3 .........  mn rn 
Rcm 
m1  m2  m3  ..............mn 

Questio (2): What is moment of inertia. Derive a formula for it for a system of n
particles having masses m 1 , m 2 , m 3 ……., m n rotating about a given axis.

Relation between rotational kinetic energy and moment of inertia. As shown in Fig., consider a
rigid body rotating about an axis with uniform angular velocity ω. The body may be assumed to
consist of n particles of masses m1 , m2 , m3 ,..........mn ; situated at distances r1 , r2 , r3 ,..........rn
from the axis of rotation. As the angular velocity ω of all the n particles is same, so their linear
velocities are

v1 = r1 ω , v2 = r2 ω , v3 = r3 ω,.........,vn = rn ω

Hence the total kinetic energy of rotation of the body

about the axis of rotation is Rotational K.E.

1 1 1
 m1v12  m2 v 22  ............  mn v n2
2 2 2
1 1 1
 m1r12ω2  m2r22ω2  ............. mnrn2ω2
2 2 2
1
 
 m1r12  m2r22  ..........mnrn2 ω2
2
1
 Iω2
2
where I  m1r12  m2r22  ..........mnrn2 (moment of inertia)

Question (3): What is radius of gyration. Obtain an expression for it.

The radius of gyration of a body about it axis of rotation may be defined as the distance from the
axis of rotation at which, if the whole mass of the body were concentrated, its moment of inertia
about the given axis would be the same as with the actual distribution of mass.

Expression for k. Suppose a rigid body consists of n particles of mass m each, situated at
distances r1 , r2 , r3 ,..........rn from the axis of rotation AB.

The moment of inertia of the body about the axis AB is

 3

I  mr12  mr22  mr32  .......mnrn2


I  m r12  r22  r33  ....... 
Multiplying and dividing RHS by n, we get

I

m  n r12  r22  r33  ....... 
n

now m × n = M, total mass of the body.

If k is the radius of gyration about the axis AB, then

I = MK2 , therefore

Mk  2 
M r12  r22  r33  ....... 
n
r12  r22  r33  .......
 k
n

Question (4): Derive a relation between moment of inertia and angular momentum.

Consider a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis with uniform angular velocity ω. The body
consists of n particles of masses m1, m2, m3, ......., mn ; situated at distance r1 , r2 , r3 ......, rn from
the axis of rotation. The angular velocity ω of all the n particles will be same but their linear
velocities will be different and are given by

v1 = r1 ω, v2 = r2 ω, v3 = r3 ω,......., vn = rn ω

Linear momenta of particles,

p1 = m1r1 = m1r1ω,

p2 = m2r2 = m2r2ω,

p3 = m3r3 = m3r3ω…………

Therefore, the angular momenta of particles

2
L1 = p1r1 = m1r ω
1
2
L2 = p2r2 = m2r ω
2
2
L3 = p3r3 = m3r ω ………
2
The angular momentum of a rigid body about an axis is the sum of moments of linear momenta
of all its particles about that axis. Thus
 4

L = L1 + L2 + L3 + ......,+ Ln

 m1r12ω  m2r22ω  m3r32ω  ...........mnrn2ω


 m1r12  m2r22  m3r32  .......mnrn2 ω
Since
m1r12  m2r22  m3r32  .......mnrn2  I (moment of inertia)
 L  Iω

Question (5): Derive a relationship between torque and angular momentum.

As
     
Torque, τ  r  F and Angular Momentum, L  r  p

Differentiating both sides w.r.t. time t, we get

  
dL d   dr   dp
 (r  p)  p  r 
dt dt dt dt
 
    dp  
 v p  r F  dt  F 
 
    
0τ  v  p  v  mv  0

 dL
τ
dt

Question (6): Derive a relation between torque and moment of inertia

Consider a particle P of mass m1 at a distance r1

from the axis of rotation. Let its linear velocity be v1 .

Linear acceleration of the first particle, a1 = r1 α

Moment of force F1 about the axis rotation is

1  r1f1 = m1 r12 α

Similarly, 2  r2 f2 , 3  r3 f3 , ...............n  rn fn ,

Total torque acting on the rigid body is

τ = τ1+ τ2 + τ3 +..........+ τn

τ  m1r12 α  m2r22 α  m3r32 α  .......mnrn2α


 τ  m1r12  m2r22  m3r32  ........mnrn2 α 
Since m1r12  m2r22  m3r32  ........mnrn2  I (moment of inertia)
 τ  Iα
 5

Question (7): Derive three equation of rotational motion.

First equation of motion.

Consider a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis with constant angular acceleration α. By
definition,

dω
α
dt
 dω  αdt
Integrting both sides within limits
ω2 t

 dω  α dt
ω1 0

 [dω] ω2
ω1  α[t]0t
 ω2  ω1  α[t  0]
 ω2  ω1  αt

Second equation of motion

Let ω2 be the angular velocity of a rigid body at any instant t. By definition,

dθ
ω2 
dt
dθ  ω2dt
 dθ  (ω1  αt)dt

Integrting both sides within limits

θ t t

 dθ  ω1  dt  α tdt
0 0 0
t
 t2 
(θ)  ω1(t)  α  
θ
0
t
0
 2 0
 t2  1
(θ  0)  ω1(t  0)  α   0   θ  ω1t  αt 2
2  2

Third equation of motion.

The angular acceleration α may be expressed as

dω
α
dt
multiply and divide by dθ, we get
dω dθ
α= 
dθ dt
 6

dω
αω
dθ
 αdθ  ωdω
Integrating both sides within given limits
θ ω2

α  dθ   ωdω
0 ω1
ω2
 ω2 
 α(θ)  
θ
0 
 2 ω1
 ω2 ω2 
 α(θ  0)   2  1 
 2 2 
 2αθ  ω22  ω12
 7

Question (8): Derive an expression for acceleration of a body rolling down a rough
inclined plane.

Consider a body of mass M and radius R rolling down a plane inclined at an angle θ to the
horizontal.

The external forces acting on the body are

I. The weight Mg of the body acting vertically downwards through the center of mass of the
cylinder.
II. The normal reaction N of the inclined plane acting perpendicular to the plane at P.
III. The frictional force f acting upwards and parallel to the inclined plane.

The weight Mg can be resolved into two rectangular components:

I. Mg cos θ perpendicular to the inclined plane.

II. Mg sin θ acting down the inclined plane.

As there is no motion in a direction normal to the inclined plane, so

N = Mg cos θ

Applying Newton’s second law to the linear motion of the center of mass, the net force on

the body rolling down the inclined plane is

F = Ma = Mg sin θ – f

It is only the force of friction f which exerts torque τ on the cylinder and makes it rotate with angular
acceleration α. It acts tangentially at point of contact P and has lever arm equal to R.

τ = Force x force arm = fR

Also, τ = Iα

FR = Iα

Iα
Or f
R

Putting the value of f in equation, we get

 8

Mgsinθ  f  Ma
Iα
 Mgsinθ   Ma
R
a
As α 
R
Ia
 Mgsinθ  2  Ma
R
Ia
Mgsinθ  2  Ma
R
 I 
 a  2  M   Mgsinθ
R 
Mgsinθ
 a
 I 
 2  M
R 

Question (9): State and prove the law of conservation of angular momentum

It states that if external torque acting on a system is zero, the total angular momentum of the
system remains conserved.

Proof:

As we know

dL
τ ext 
dt
if τ ext 0
dL
then 0
dt
or L  constant

Important theory questions

(a)Explain why a dancer bends her hands inwards when she revolves around her body.

(b)Explain why helicopter has two propellers.

(c)Explain why a diver bends his body during jump and stretches when he is about to
touch water.

(d)Explain why cat can jump from large height with getting injured.

(e)Explain what would happen if all the ice on polar caps would melt.

(a) A dancer bends her hands inwards to decrease her moment of inertia, which allows her to spin
faster due to the conservation of angular momentum.

(b) A helicopter has two propellers to counteract the torque effect. The main rotor provides lift and
thrust, while the tail rotor or a second main rotor spinning in the opposite direction prevents the
body from spinning uncontrollably.
 9

(c) A diver bends his body during a jump to reduce the moment of inertia and spin faster for
complex manoeuvres. Stretching out before hitting the water increases the moment of inertia,
slowing rotation and allowing for a controlled entry.

(d) Cats can jump from large heights without getting injured due to their highly flexible spine, the
ability to spread their body to increase air resistance, and strong muscles that absorb the impact.

(e) If all the ice on polar caps would melt, it would lead to a significant rise in sea levels, potentially
flooding coastal areas. It would also cause loss of habitat for polar species, changes in climate
patterns, and disruptions in the global climate system.