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Class 11 · CBSE

System of Particles and Rotational Motion — NCERT Class 11 Physics

Complete NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 11 Physics Chapter 7 — all intext and chapter-end exercise questions on centre of mass, torque, angular momentum, moment of inertia, rolling answered clearly.

Updated 11 June 202612 min read

How to Use This Page

For rotational motion problems, first identify the axis of rotation. Then compute the moment of inertia about that axis. Write the torque equation τ = Iα and solve. For rolling problems, combine translational and rotational equations. Always show formula → substitution → answer with units.


Key Concepts (Quick Recap)

  • Centre of mass: R_CM = (Σmᵢrᵢ)/Σmᵢ
  • Torque: τ = r × F = rF sin θ; SI unit: N m
  • Angular momentum: L = Iω = r × p
  • Moment of inertia: I = Σmᵢrᵢ² (discrete), I = ∫r²dm (continuous)
  • Parallel axes theorem: I = I_CM + Md²
  • Perpendicular axes theorem: I_z = I_x + I_y (for a planar body)
  • Key MI formulas:
  • Thin ring: I = MR²
  • Solid disc/cylinder: I = ½MR²
  • Solid sphere: I = (2/5)MR²
  • Hollow sphere: I = (2/3)MR²
  • Thin rod (centre): I = (1/12)ML²
  • Thin rod (end): I = (1/3)ML²
  • Rolling without slipping: v = Rω, a = Rα
  • Rolling on incline: a = g sin θ/(1 + I/(MR²))
  • Conservation of angular momentum: L = Iω = constant (when τ_ext = 0)

Intext Questions

Page 147

Q1. Give the location of the centre of mass of a (a) sphere (b) cylinder (c) ring (d) cube, each with uniform mass distribution.
Answer

All these bodies have uniform mass distribution and symmetric geometry, so the centre of mass is at their geometric centre in each case: (a) Sphere — at the centre of the sphere (b) Cylinder — at the midpoint of its axis (c) Ring — at the centre of the ring (d) Cube — at the intersection of its diagonals

Q2. In the HCl molecule, the separation between the nuclei of the two atoms is about 1.27 Å. Given that the Cl atom is about 35.5 times as massive as the H atom and that the bond length is measured from the centre of the Cl atom, where is the centre of mass of the HCl molecule?
Answer

Let the Cl atom be at origin. H atom is at distance 1.27 Å from Cl. m_H = m, m_Cl = 35.5m

x_CM = (m_Cl × 0 + m_H × 1.27)/(m_Cl + m_H) = (m × 1.27)/(35.5m + m) = 1.27/36.5 = 0.0348 Å from the Cl atom

Page 151

Q3. A child sits stationary at one end of a long trolley moving uniformly on a smooth horizontal floor. If the child gets up and runs about on the trolley in any manner, what is the effect on the speed of the trolley? (Ignore friction)
Answer

There is no external horizontal force on the system (child + trolley). By conservation of momentum, the centre of mass of the system continues to move with the same velocity. When the child runs in one direction, the trolley moves in the opposite direction to conserve momentum. However, the speed of the centre of mass remains unchanged. The trolley's speed changes depending on the child's motion, but the system's overall motion (CM velocity) stays the same.

Q4. Show that the total angular momentum of a system of particles about a fixed point is the sum of the angular momentum of the centre of mass about that point and the angular momentum of the system about the centre of mass.
Answer

L_total = Σ(rᵢ × mᵢvᵢ)

Let rᵢ = R_CM + rᵢ' (where rᵢ' is position relative to CM) vᵢ = V_CM + vᵢ'

L_total = Σ(R_CM + rᵢ') × mᵢ(V_CM + vᵢ') = R_CM × M V_CM + R_CM × Σmᵢvᵢ' + Σmᵢrᵢ' × V_CM + Σrᵢ' × mᵢvᵢ'

Since Σmᵢrᵢ' = 0 (CM frame) and Σmᵢvᵢ' = 0: L_total = R_CM × MV_CM + Σrᵢ' × mᵢvᵢ' = L_CM + L_about CM

Page 157

Q5. Two particles each of mass m are attached to the ends of a light rigid rod of length 2l. What is the moment of inertia of the system about an axis perpendicular to the rod and passing through (a) the centre (b) one end?
Answer

(a) About the centre: I = m(l²) + m(l²) = 2ml²

(b) About one end: I = m(0²) + m((2l)²) = 4ml²

Q6. A uniform circular disc of radius R and mass M is rotated about an axis tangential to its edge and in the plane of the disc. Find the moment of inertia.
Answer

I_CM = ½MR² (about centre, perpendicular to plane)

For an axis in the plane of the disc through the centre: I_diameter = ¼MR² (by perpendicular axes theorem)

Using parallel axes theorem, shifting by distance R (to the tangent): I = I_diameter + MR² = ¼MR² + MR² = 5MR²/4

Q7. A solid cylinder of mass M and radius R rolls without slipping down an inclined plane of angle θ. Find the acceleration of the centre of mass.
Answer

For rolling without slipping: a = Rα

Translational: Ma = Mg sin θ − f (friction) Rotational: Iα = fR → (½MR²)(a/R) = fR → f = ½Ma

Substituting: Ma = Mg sin θ − ½Ma → 3Ma/2 = Mg sin θ a = (2/3)g sin θ = (2g sin θ)/3


Chapter-End Exercise

Q7.1. Give the location of the centre of mass of a (a) sphere (b) cylinder (c) ring (d) cube.
Answer

(See intext Q1 above.) All are at the geometric centre.

Q7.2. In the HCl molecule, the separation between the nuclei is 1.27 Å. The Cl atom is 35.5 times as massive as H. Where is the centre of mass?
Answer

(See intext Q2 above.) 0.0348 Å from the Cl atom (toward the H atom).

Q7.3. A child sits at one end of a long trolley moving uniformly on a smooth floor. If the child gets up and runs about, what is the effect on the speed of the centre of mass of the trolley + child system?
Answer

No effect. The centre of mass velocity remains unchanged because there is no external horizontal force acting on the system.

Q7.4. Show that the area of the triangle bounded by the vectors a and b is half the magnitude of a × b.
Answer
a × b=absin θ, where θ is the angle between a and b.

The area of the triangle formed by a and b as two sides is:

Area = ½ ×a×b× sin θ = ½a × b

Proved.

Q7.5. Show that a.(b × c) is equal in magnitude to the volume of the parallelepiped formed on the three vectors a, b, c.
Answer

The component of a along the direction of (b × c) gives the height

b × c= area of the parallelepiped's base (parallelogram on b and c)
a · (b × c)=ab × ccos φ = (base area) × (height) = volume of the parallelepiped

(Where φ is the angle between a and the normal to the b-c plane.)

Q7.6. A wheel starts from rest and acquires an angular velocity of 50 rad s⁻¹ in 10 s. What is the angular acceleration?
Answer

ω₀ = 0, ω = 50 rad s⁻¹, t = 10 s

α = (ω − ω₀)/t = (50 − 0)/10 = 5 rad s⁻²

Q7.7. A disc of radius 10 cm is rotating about its axis at 120 rev min⁻¹. A force is applied tangentially for 5 s which increases the speed to 300 rev min⁻¹. If the moment of inertia of the disc is 0.2 kg m², find the force applied.
Answer

r = 0.1 m, I = 0.2 kg m², t = 5 s

ω₁ = 120 × 2π/60 = 4π rad s⁻¹ ω₂ = 300 × 2π/60 = 10π rad s⁻¹

α = (ω₂ − ω₁)/t = (10π − 4π)/5 = 6π/5 rad s⁻²

Torque τ = Iα = 0.2 × 6π/5 = 0.24π N m

F = τ/r = 0.24π/0.1 = 2.4π = 7.54 N

Q7.8. A solid cylinder of mass 20 kg rotates about its axis with angular speed 100 rad s⁻¹. The radius of the cylinder is 0.25 m. What is the kinetic energy associated with the rotation of the cylinder? What is the magnitude of the angular momentum of the cylinder about its axis?
Answer

m = 20 kg, R = 0.25 m, ω = 100 rad s⁻¹ I = ½MR² = ½ × 20 × (0.25)² = ½ × 20 × 0.0625 = 0.625 kg m²

KE_rot = ½Iω² = ½ × 0.625 × 10000 = 3125 J

L = Iω = 0.625 × 100 = 62.5 kg m² s⁻¹

Q7.9. A child stands at the centre of a turntable with his arms outstretched. The turntable is rotating at 30 rev min⁻¹. If the child folds his arms, the speed increases to 45 rev min⁻¹. Why? By how much has the moment of inertia changed?
Answer

By conservation of angular momentum: I₁ω₁ = I₂ω₂

When the child folds his arms, the mass distribution shifts closer to the axis, decreasing the moment of inertia. Since L = Iω = constant, a decrease in I causes an increase in ω.

I₁/I₂ = ω₂/ω₁ = 45/30 = 1.5

The moment of inertia decreases by a factor of 1.5, i.e., I₂ = (2/3)I₁

Q7.10. A car weighs 1800 kg. The distance between its front and back axles is 1.8 m. The centre of gravity is 1.05 m behind the front axle. Find the force exerted by the level ground on each wheel (a) front wheels (b) rear wheels.
Answer

m = 1800 kg, d = 1.8 m, x = 1.05 m (CG from front axle)

Taking moments about the front axle: R_front × 0 + R_rear × 1.8 = mg × 1.05 R_rear = 1800 × 9.8 × 1.05/1.8 = 18522/1.8 = 10290 N (total on both rear wheels) Force per rear wheel = 10290/2 = 5145 N

R_front = mg − R_rear = 17640 − 10290 = 7350 N (total on both front wheels) Force per front wheel = 7350/2 = 3675 N

Q7.11. A ring, a disc, and a sphere, all of the same mass and radius, roll down an incline without slipping. Which reaches the bottom first?
Answer

For rolling without slipping: a = g sin θ/(1 + I/(MR²))

  • Ring: I = MR² → a = g sin θ/2
  • Disc: I = ½MR² → a = 2g sin θ/3
  • Sphere: I = (2/5)MR² → a = 5g sin θ/7

Since 5/7 > 2/3 > 1/2, the sphere has the greatest acceleration and reaches the bottom first, followed by the disc, and then the ring.

Q7.12. A solid sphere of mass 5 kg rolls on a horizontal surface without slipping. If its centre of mass has a speed of 5 m s⁻¹, what is its total kinetic energy?
Answer

m = 5 kg, v = 5 m s⁻¹, I = (2/5)MR², v = Rω → ω = v/R

KE_total = KE_trans + KE_rot = ½mv² + ½Iω² = ½mv² + ½(2/5)MR² × (v/R)² = ½mv² + ⅕mv² = ½(5)(25) + ⅕(5)(25) = 62.5 + 25 = 87.5 J

Q7.13. A solid cylinder rolls up an inclined plane of angle 30°. The speed of the centre of mass at the bottom is 5 m s⁻¹. How far does the cylinder roll up the plane before coming to rest?
Answer

a = g sin θ/(1 + I/(MR²)) = g sin θ/(1 + ½) = (2/3)g sin θ

a = (2/3)(9.8)(0.5) = 3.27 m s⁻² (deceleration going up)

v² = u² + 2as → 0 = 25 + 2(−3.27)s s = 25/6.54 = 3.82 m

Alternatively, using energy conservation: ½mv²(1 + I/(MR²)) = mgs sin θ ½v²(1 + ½) = gs sin θ s = 3v²/(4g sin θ) = 3(25)/(4 × 9.8 × 0.5) = 75/19.6 = 3.82 m

Q7.14. A disc rotating about its axis with angular speed ω₀ is placed on a frictionless horizontal surface. Another identical disc rotating with angular speed 2ω₀ is placed on top of it so that their axes coincide. What is the angular speed of the composite system?
Answer

By conservation of angular momentum: I₁ω₁ + I₂ω₂ = (I₁ + I₂)ω

Since discs are identical: I₁ = I₂ = I I(ω₀) + I(2ω₀) = 2Iω 3Iω₀ = 2Iω ω = 3ω₀/2

Q7.15. A bullet of mass 10 g and speed 500 m s⁻¹ is fired into a door and gets embedded exactly at the centre of the door. The door is 1 m wide and weighs 12 kg. It is hinged at one end and rotates about a vertical axis. Find the angular speed of the door just after the bullet embeds into it.
Answer

m_bullet = 0.01 kg, v = 500 m s⁻¹ Door: M = 12 kg, width = 1 m, I_door = (1/3)ML² = (1/3)(12)(1²) = 4 kg m²

Bullet embeds at centre (r = 0.5 m from hinge) I_bullet = m_bullet × r² = 0.01 × 0.25 = 0.0025 kg m²

Angular momentum before: L = m_bullet × v × r = 0.01 × 500 × 0.5 = 2.5 kg m² s⁻¹ Total I after = I_door + I_bullet = 4 + 0.0025 = 4.0025 kg m²

ω = L/I = 2.5/4.0025 = 0.625 rad s⁻¹


Internal Links

  • [Chapter 7 Guide — Rotational Motion](/school/cbse/class/11/physics/cbse-rotational-motion)
  • [All Class 11 Physics Solutions](/school/cbse/class/11/physics/solutions)
  • [Class 11 Physics Subject Guide](/school/cbse/class/11/physics)

Frequently Asked Questions

Centre of mass is the point where the entire mass of the system can be considered concentrated for translational motion. Centre of gravity is the point where the entire weight can be considered to act. They coincide in uniform gravitational fields but differ in non-uniform fields.
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