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NEET PHYSICSMedium

Consider a system of two particles having masses m1m_1 and m2m_2. If the particle of mass m1m_1 is pushed towards the centre of mass of particles through a distance dd, by what distance would the particle of the mass m2m_2 move so as to keep the centre of mass of particles at the original position?

A

m1m1+m2d\frac{m_1}{m_1+m_2}d

B

m1m2d\frac{m_1}{m_2}d

C

dd

D

m2m1d\frac{m_2}{m_1}d

Step-by-Step Solution

The position of the centre of mass for a two-particle system is given by xcm=m1x1+m2x2m1+m2x_{cm} = \frac{m_1 x_1 + m_2 x_2}{m_1 + m_2}. Since the centre of mass remains at its original position, the shift in the centre of mass is zero, i.e., Δxcm=0\Delta x_{cm} = 0. Therefore, m1Δx1+m2Δx2m1+m2=0\frac{m_1 \Delta x_1 + m_2 \Delta x_2}{m_1 + m_2} = 0, which implies m1Δx1+m2Δx2=0m_1 \Delta x_1 + m_2 \Delta x_2 = 0. Considering only the magnitudes of the displacements (as both must move towards the centre of mass to keep it stationary), we have: m1d=m2dm_1 d = m_2 d' Where dd is the distance moved by m1m_1 and dd' is the distance moved by m2m_2. Thus, the distance moved by the second particle is d=m1m2dd' = \frac{m_1}{m_2}d.

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