Quantrex Quantrex AcademyJEE · NEET · NDA PYQs with solutions Open app
NEET 2026
Exam
NEET
Year
2026
Subject
Physics
Chapter
Center of Mass, Momentum and Collision

NEET 2026 · Physics · Center of Mass, Momentum and Collision

A frictionless circular wire of unit radius is fixed on the...

A frictionless circular wire of unit radius is fixed on the horizontal plane. Two point particles of unit mass start moving simultaneously from point A(θ=π2)A\left(\theta=\dfrac{\pi}{2}\right) with identical uniform angular speeds in opposite directions, and meet again at point B(θ=−π2)B\left(\theta=-\dfrac{\pi}{2}\right). During this time, which of the following figures schematically represent the magnitude of the total linear momentum PP of the system, as a function of θ\theta ?
A frictionless circular wire of unit radius is fixed on the horizontal plane. Two point particles of unit mass start

Options

  1. AIf the line segment joining the points (5,2) and (2, a) subtends an angle (π)/(4) at the origin, then the absolute
  2. BIf the line segment joining the points (5,2) and (2, a) subtends an angle (π)/(4) at the origin, then the absolute
  3. CIf the line segment joining the points (5,2) and (2, a) subtends an angle (π)/(4) at the origin, then the absolute
  4. DIf the line segment joining the points (5,2) and (2, a) subtends an angle (π)/(4) at the origin, then the absolute

Correct answer

D. If the line segment joining the points (5,2) and (2, a) subtends an angle (π)/(4) at the origin, then the absolute

Step-by-step solution

Let the uniform angular speed of the particles be ω\omega.

The position vector of the particle on the right at an angle θ\theta is given by r⃗1=cos⁡θi^+sin⁡θj^\vec{r}_1 = \cos\theta \hat{i} + \sin\theta \hat{j}.

Since it moves from θ=π2\theta = \dfrac{\pi}{2} to θ=−π2\theta = -\dfrac{\pi}{2}, its angular velocity is dθdt=−ω\dfrac{d\theta}{dt} = -\omega.

The velocity of the first particle is v⃗1=dr⃗1dt=(−sin⁡θi^+cos⁡θj^)dθdt=ωsin⁡θi^−ωcos⁡θj^\vec{v}_1 = \dfrac{d\vec{r}_1}{dt} = (-\sin\theta \hat{i} + \cos\theta \hat{j})\dfrac{d\theta}{dt} = \omega\sin\theta \hat{i} - \omega\cos\theta \hat{j}.

By symmetry, the position vector of the particle on the left is r⃗2=−cos⁡θi^+sin⁡θj^\vec{r}_2 = -\cos\theta \hat{i} + \sin\theta \hat{j}.

Its velocity is v⃗2=dr⃗2dt=(sin⁡θi^+cos⁡θj^)dθdt=−ωsin⁡θi^−ωcos⁡θj^\vec{v}_2 = \dfrac{d\vec{r}_2}{dt} = (\sin\theta \hat{i} + \cos\theta \hat{j})\dfrac{d\theta}{dt} = -\omega\sin\theta \hat{i} - \omega\cos\theta \hat{j}.

The total linear momentum of the system is P⃗=mv⃗1+mv⃗2\vec{P} = m\vec{v}_1 + m\vec{v}_2.

Given m=1m = 1, we have P⃗=(ωsin⁡θi^−ωcos⁡θj^)+(−ωsin⁡θi^−ωcos⁡θj^)=−2ωcos⁡θj^\vec{P} = (\omega\sin\theta \hat{i} - \omega\cos\theta \hat{j}) + (-\omega\sin\theta \hat{i} - \omega\cos\theta \hat{j}) = -2\omega\cos\theta \hat{j}.

The magnitude of the total linear momentum is P=∣P⃗∣=2ωcos⁡θP = |\vec{P}| = 2\omega\cos\theta (since cos⁡θ≥0\cos\theta \geq 0 for θ∈[−π2,π2]\theta \in \left[-\dfrac{\pi}{2}, \dfrac{\pi}{2}\right]).

The graph of PP versus θ\theta is a cosine curve which is zero at θ=±π2\theta = \pm\dfrac{\pi}{2} and maximum at θ=0\theta = 0. This corresponds to the fourth graph.

Answer: A frictionless circular wire of unit radius is fixed on the horizontal plane. Two point particles of unit mass start
Practice Center of Mass, Momentum and Collision on Quantrex Academy →

More from Center of Mass, Momentum and Collision

Bob B of mass m at rest is hanging vertically from the ceiling via a massless string of… NEET 2026A ball of mass 0.5 kg is dropped from a height of 40 m . The ball hits the ground and… NEET 2025Two bodies A and B of same mass undergo completely inelastic one dimensional collision.… NEET 2024Two particles A and B initially at rest, move towards each other under mutual force of… NEET 2023A 1 ~kg object strikes a wall with velocity 1 ~ms^ -1 at an angle of 60^ ∘ with the wall… NEET 2023A bullet of mass m hits a block of mass M elastically. The transfer of energy is the… NEET 2023A shell of mass m is at rest initially. It explodes into three fragments having mass in… NEET 2022Two objects of mass 10kg and 20kg respectively are connected to the two ends of a rigid… NEET 2022 Full Center of Mass, Momentum and Collision list All NEET PYQs