Two persons of masses 55 kg and 65 kg respectively, are at the opposite ends of a boat. The length of the boat is 3.0 m and weighs 100 kg. The 55 kg man walks up to the 65 kg man and sits with him. If the boat is in still water the centre of mass of the system shifts by:
- 3.0 m
- 2.3 m
- zero
- 0.75 m
Answer
(3) zero
Solution
The forces between the men and the boat are internal forces of the (men + boat) system.
no external horizontal force acts (still water), Fext = 0 acm = 0
the system starts from rest, vcm = 0 throughout.
the centre of mass does not shift (the boat moves instead).
Answer: (3)