CHAPTER 7 – SYSTEM OF PARTICLES & ROTATIONAL MOTION

1 Show that the cross product of two parallel vectors is zero.

2 Show that for an isolated system the centre of mass moves with uniform velocity

along a straight line path.

3 Which physical quantities are represented by the

(i) Rate of change of angular momentum?

(ii) Product of I and ω ?

4 State the condition for translational equilibrium of a body.

5 How is angular momentum related to linear momentum?

6 Two bodies of masses 1 kg and 2 kg are lying in X-Y plane at (-2,2) and (4, 4)
respectively. What are the co-ordinates of the centre of mass?

7 (a) Why is moment of inertia called rotational inertia?

(b) Calculate M.I of a uniform circular disc of mass 500gm and radius 10cm about its

(i) Diameter (ii) Axis tangent to the disc and parallel to diameter

(iii) Axis passing through centre and perpendicular to its plane?

8 What is the position of the centre of mass of a uniform triangular lamina?

9 State parallelaxis theorem on moment of inertia. Calculate the moment of inertia of a ring about
a tangent to the circle of the ring using parallel axis theorem.

1 What are the factors on which moment of inertia of a body depends?

0

1 A cat is able to land on its feet aftera fall. Why?

1
1 If earth were to shrink suddenly, what would happen to the length of the day?
2
If earth were to shrink suddenly, its radius R would decrease. The moment of inertia of earth I =
2/5 MR2 would decrease. As no external torque is acting on earth its angular momentum L = I ω
=I 2π/T remains constant. As I decrease, T must decrease. Hence the length of the day will
decrease.
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1 If the ice on polar caps of the earth melts, how will it affect the duration of the day?
3

Earth rotates about its polar axis. When ice of polar cap melts, mass concentrated near the axis
of rotation spreads out.Therefore, moment of inertia I increases.
As no external torque is acting on earth its angular momentum L = I ω =I 2π/T remains constant.
As I increase, T will increase. Hence the length of the day will increase

1 There are two spheres of same mass and same radius, one is solid and other is hollow. Which
4 of them has a larger moment of inertia about its diameter?

The hollow sphere. Its entire mass is concentrated at the boundary of the sphere, at maximum
distance from the axis.

1 Explain why the speed of a whirl wind in a tornado is alarmingly high?

5

In a whirl wind, air from the nearby regions gets concentrated in a small space. Moment of
inertia decreases on account of decrease in distance. As L = I ω = constant, angular speed
increases to alarmingly high values.

1 A disc of metal is melted and recasted in the form of a solid sphere. What will happen to the
6 moment of inertia about a vertical axis passing through the centre?

Moment of inertia will decrease. The radius of the sphere formed on recasting the
disc will decrease. Id = ½ mr2 , Is = 2/5 mr2.

1 State perpendicular axis theorem on moment of inertia. Calculate the moment of inertia of a disc
7 about one of its diameters using perpendicular axis theorem

1 Establish a relation between angular momentum and moment of inertia of a rigid body.
8

1 State and prove the law of conservation of angular momentum.

9

2 Show the relation between torque and angular momentum.

0

2 Establish the relation between torque and moment of inertia of a rigid body.
1

2 Derive an expression for rotational kinetic energy.

2

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