IIT-JAM Physics by Nitin PrepKit

Non-Inertial Frames
Mechanics

Questions

Question 1 [JAM PH-2005]

An observer is sitting on a horizontal platform which is rotating with a constant

angular velocity. He puts an object on the smooth frictionless floor of the platform,
away from the axis of rotation, with zero initial velocity with respect to him. Let the
time at this instant be t=0. In the frame of the platform, the object would

a) Remain at rest for all t>0

b) Accelerate purely in a radial direction outwards for all t>0.
c) Accelerate purely in a tangential direction for all t>0.
d) Accelerate radially in the outward direction at t=0, however the direction of
acceleration changes for t>0

Question 2 [JAM PH 2010]

A circular platform is rotating with a uniform angular speed w counter clockwise

about an axis passing through its centre and perpendicular to its plane as shown in
the figure. A person of mass m walks radially inward
with a uniform speed v on the platform. The magnitude
and the direction of the Coriolis force (with respect to
the direction along which the person walks is
a) 2𝑚𝑣ω towards his left
b) 2𝑚𝑣ω towards his front
c) 2𝑚𝑣ω towards his right
d) 2𝑚𝑣ω Towards his back

Question 3 [JAM PH - 2014]

Two points N and S are located in the northern and southern hemisphere,
respectively, on the same longitude. Projectile P and Q are fired from N and S,

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respectively, towards each other. Which of the options is correct for the projectile
as they approach the equator?

a) Both P and Q will move towards the east.

b) Both P and Q will move towards the west.
c) P will move towards the east and Q towards the west
d) P will move towards the east and Q towards the west

Question 4 [IIT-JAM 2008]

A circular disc(in the horizontal x-y plane) is spinning about a vertical axis through
its centre ‘O’ with a constant angular speed ω. As viewed from the reference frame
of the disc, a particle is observed to execute uniform motion, in the anticlockwise
sense, centred at P. When the particle is at the point Q, which of the following
figures correctly represents the directions of the Coriolis force and the centrifugal
force?

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Question 5 [JAM PH 2015]

An observer is located on a horizontal circular turntable which rotates about a

vertical axis passing through its centre, with a uniform angular speed of 2 rad/sec.
A mass of 10 grams is sliding without being observed to move towards the centre
with a speed of 6 cm/sec. The net force on the mass as seen by the observer at that
instant is

a) 0.0024 N b) 0.0032 N c) 0.004 N d) 0.006 N

Question 6 [JAM PH-2017] MSQ

A particle of mass m fixed in space is observed from rotating about its z axis with
angular speed . The particle is in the frame’s xy plane at a distance R from the
origin. If the coriolis and centrifugal forces on the particle are and , respectively,
then

2
a) 𝐹𝐶𝑂𝑅 + 𝐹𝐶𝐹𝐺 = 0 b) 𝐹𝐶𝑂𝑅 + 𝐹𝐶𝐹𝐺 =− 2𝑚ω 𝑅 𝑟

2 2
c) 𝐹𝐶𝑂𝑅 =− 2𝑚ω 𝑅 𝑟 d) 𝐹𝐶𝐹𝐺 =− 𝑚ω 𝑅 𝑟

Question 7 [JAM PH 2019]

Consider an object moving with a velocity v in a frame which rotates with a

constant angular velocity ω. The Coriolis force experienced by the object is

a) Along v c) Perpendicular to both v and ω

b) Along ω d) Always directed towards the axis of rotation

Question 8 [BHU 2016]

An example of a non-inertial reference frame is when:

a) a frame of reference is stationary w.r.t. the other frame

b) a frame of reference moves with a uniform velocity towards the other reference
frame

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c) a reference frame moves away from the other reference frame with a uniform
velocity
d) a reference frame rotates with a uniform angular velocity w.r.t. the other frame

Question 9 [BHU 2015]

The inertial reference frame is used in the description of special theory of relativity.
An example of an inertial reference frame is

a) rotating frame with a uniform angular velocity w.r.t. a stationary frame

b) two frames stationary with respect to each other
c) a freely falling frame under uniform gravitation
d) two frames having uniform acceleration with respect to each other

Question 10 [TIFR 2016]

On a planet having the same mass and diameter as the Earth, it is observed that
objects become weightless at the equator. Find the time period of rotation of this
planer in minutes(as defined on the Earth).

Question 11

The rear side of the truck is open and a box of 40kg mass is placed 5m away from
the open end. The Coefficient of friction between the box and the surface below it
is 0.15. On a straight road, the truck starts from rest and accelerates with 2m/s2.
Find the distance(in m) travelled by truck by the time the box falls from the truck.
Ignore the size of the block.

a) 10 m b) 15 m c) 20 m d) 25 m

Question 12

The lift is accelerated upwards with acceleration 𝑎𝑜, the time period of the simple
pendulum inside the lift having the string length 𝑙 is

𝑙 𝑙
a) 2π b) 2π
𝑔+𝑎𝑜 𝑔−𝑎𝑜

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𝑙 𝑙
c) 2π d) 2π
𝑔+𝑎𝑜 𝑔

Question 13

The lift is accelerated downwards with acceleration 𝑎𝑜, the time period of the
simple pendulum inside the lift having the string length 𝑙 is

𝑙 𝑙
a) 2π b) 2π
𝑔+𝑎𝑜 𝑔−𝑎𝑜

𝑙 𝑙
c) 2π d) 2π
𝑔+𝑎𝑜 𝑔

Question 14

A car is accelerated with acceleration 𝑎𝑜, the time period of the simple pendulum
inside the car having the string length 𝑙 is

𝑙 𝑙
a) 2π b) 2π
𝑔−𝑎𝑜 𝑔−𝑎𝑜

𝑙 𝑙
c) 2π d) 2π
𝑔+𝑎𝑜 𝑔

Question 15

The ratio of weights of a man inside a lift when it is stationary and when it is going
down with uniform acceleration 𝑎 is 3:2. The value of 𝑎 is

a) 3𝑔/2 b) 𝑔/2 c) 𝑔/3 d) 2𝑔/3

Question 16

The angular speed of the Earth rotation is

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a) 2.25 x 10-5 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠 b) 7.25 x 10-5 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠

c) 2.25 x 10-4 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠 d) 7.25 x 10-4 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠

Question 17

The Earth is rotating with constant angular speed ω. The expression of angular
velocity in the northern hemisphere with latitude angle θ is

(using standard direction convention)

a) ω(𝑐𝑜𝑠θ𝑖 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ𝑗) b) ω(𝑐𝑜𝑠θ𝑖 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ𝑗)

c) ω(𝑐𝑜𝑠θ𝑗 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ𝑘) d) ω(𝑐𝑜𝑠θ𝑗 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ𝑘)

Question 18

The Earth is rotating with constant angular speed ω. The expression of angular
velocity in the southern hemisphere with latitude angle θ is

(using standard direction convention)

a) ω(𝑐𝑜𝑠θ𝑖 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ𝑗) b) ω(𝑐𝑜𝑠θ𝑖 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ𝑗)

c) ω(𝑐𝑜𝑠θ𝑗 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ𝑘) d) ω(𝑐𝑜𝑠θ𝑗 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ𝑘)

Question 19

An object is falling in the Northern Hemisphere on the Earth. Which of the

following is true?

a) Object will deflect towards North

b) Object will deflect towards South
c) Object will deflect towards East
d) Object will deflect towards West

Question 20

An object is falling in the Northern Hemisphere on the Earth. Which of the

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following is true?

a) Object will deflect towards North

b) Object will deflect towards South
c) Object will deflect towards East
d) Object will deflect towards West

Question 21

An object of mass 5 kg is moving with velocity 80 m/s in the North-East direction

on the Earth’s surface at a location where latitude is 45o. The magnitude of coriolis
force experience by the object is

a) 0.25 N b) 0.5 N c) 0.15 N d) 0.05 N

Question 22 [IISc 2007]

An Inclined plane is rotating around a vertical pole with an angular speed ω. A

block of mass M is sliding down the plane. At what distance is along the plane
does it fly off the surface?

𝑔 𝑔
a) 𝑠 = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑡θ b) 𝑠 = 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ
ω ω

𝑔 𝑔
c) 𝑠 = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐θ d) 𝑠 = 2 𝑡𝑎𝑛θ
ω ω

Answers
1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (c)
6. (b,c) 7. (c) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (85)

11. (c) 12. (a) 13. (b) 14. (b) 15. (c)

16. (b) 17. (d) 18. (c) 19. (c) 20. (c)

21. (d) 22. (c)

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