Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]
- Exam
- Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]
- Subject
- Physics
- Chapter
- Centre of Mass, Linear momentum, Collision
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1] · Physics · Centre of Mass, Linear momentum, Collision
A stationary block explodes into three equal parts. Two of the...
A stationary block explodes into three equal parts. Two of the parts travel along the and axes, respectively, each with a speed of . Determine the initial velocity of the third part.


Options
- A directed 135^{}^{{}^{\circ}} below the positive -axis
- B directed 135^{}^{{}^{\circ}} below the positive -axis
- C directed 135^{}^{{}^{\circ}} below the positive -axis
- D directed 45^{}^{{}^{\circ}} below the positive -axis
Correct answer
C. directed 135^{}^{{}^{\circ}} below the positive -axis
Step-by-step solution
Let the total mass of the stationary block be . Since it explodes into three equal parts, the mass of each part is .
The initial momentum of the system is zero because the block is stationary.
Let the velocities of the three parts be , , and .
Given that two parts travel along the and axes with a speed of , we have:
According to the law of conservation of linear momentum:
The magnitude of the velocity of the third part is:
The direction of is given by the angle it makes with the positive -axis. Since both the and components are negative, the vector lies in the third quadrant.
The angle made with the negative -axis is \tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{10}{10}\right) = 45^{}^{{}^{\circ}}.
Thus, the angle from the positive -axis is 180^{}^{{}^{\circ}} + 45^{}^{{}^{\circ}} = 225^{}^{{}^{\circ}} counterclockwise.
This is equivalent to 135^{}^{{}^{\circ}} clockwise, meaning it is directed 135^{}^{{}^{\circ}} below the positive -axis.
The initial momentum of the system is zero because the block is stationary.
Let the velocities of the three parts be , , and .
Given that two parts travel along the and axes with a speed of , we have:
According to the law of conservation of linear momentum:
The magnitude of the velocity of the third part is:
The direction of is given by the angle it makes with the positive -axis. Since both the and components are negative, the vector lies in the third quadrant.
The angle made with the negative -axis is \tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{10}{10}\right) = 45^{}^{{}^{\circ}}.
Thus, the angle from the positive -axis is 180^{}^{{}^{\circ}} + 45^{}^{{}^{\circ}} = 225^{}^{{}^{\circ}} counterclockwise.
This is equivalent to 135^{}^{{}^{\circ}} clockwise, meaning it is directed 135^{}^{{}^{\circ}} below the positive -axis.