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A man weighing 80 kg is standing in a trolley weighing 320 kg. The trolley is resting on frictionless horizontal rails. If the man starts walking on the trolley with a speed of 1 m/s, then after 4 s his displacement relative to the ground will be:

A

5 m

B

4.8 m

C

3.2 m

D

3.0 m

Step-by-Step Solution

Since the system (man + trolley) is initially at rest and there is no external force in the horizontal direction, the total linear momentum of the system is conserved .

  1. Define Variables: Mass of man (mm) = 80 kg80\text{ kg} Mass of trolley (MM) = 320 kg320\text{ kg} Velocity of man relative to trolley (vrelv_{rel}) = 1 m/s1\text{ m/s} Let vTv_T be the velocity of the trolley relative to the ground.
  • Let vmv_m be the velocity of the man relative to the ground.
  1. Relative Velocity Relation: vrel=vmvT    vm=vT+vrel=vT+1v_{rel} = v_m - v_T \implies v_m = v_T + v_{rel} = v_T + 1.

  2. Conservation of Momentum: Pinitial=0P_{initial} = 0 Pfinal=mvm+MvT=0P_{final} = m v_m + M v_T = 0 Substitute vmv_m: 80(vT+1)+320vT=080(v_T + 1) + 320 v_T = 0 80vT+80+320vT=080 v_T + 80 + 320 v_T = 0 400vT=80    vT=0.2 m/s400 v_T = -80 \implies v_T = -0.2\text{ m/s}.

  3. Calculate Man's Velocity w.r.t. Ground: vm=0.2+1=0.8 m/sv_m = -0.2 + 1 = 0.8\text{ m/s}.

  4. Calculate Displacement: Displacement = vm×t=0.8 m/s×4 s=3.2 mv_m \times t = 0.8\text{ m/s} \times 4\text{ s} = 3.2\text{ m}.

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