Question

Consider a system of two particles having masses $m_1$ and $m_2$. If the particle of mass $m_1$ is pushed towards the mass centre of particles through a distance '$d$', by what distance would be particle of mass $m_2$ move so as to keep the mass centre of particles at the original position ?

• A. $\frac{m_1}{m_1+m_2}d$
• B. $\frac{m_1}{m_2}d$
• C. d
• D. $\frac{m_2}{m_1}d$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

$\frac{m_1}{m_2}d$

Answer 2

$m _{1} r _{1}= m _{2} r _{2} \ldots(1)$
$m _{1}\left( r _{1}- d \right)= m _{2}\left( r _{2}- d ^{\prime}\right) \ldots . .(2)$
from (1) and (2) we get
$d' =\frac{ m _{1}}{ m _{2}} d$