Consider a system of two identical particles having mass m. If one of the particles of mass m is pushed towards the center of mass of the particles through a distance x, by what amount the other particle should move so as to keep the center of mass of particles at the original position?

Consider a system of two identical particles having mass m. If one of

1.	Consider a system of two identical particles having mass m. If one of the particles of mass m is pushed towards the center of mass of the particles through a distance x, by what amount the other particle should move so as to keep the center of mass of particles at the original position?
Answer» SOLUTION :Suppose the distance of mass `m_(1)` from the centre of mass C is `x_(1)` and that of `m_(2)` from C is `x_(2)` Suppose the `m_(2)` is MOVED through a distance d towards C so as keep the CENRE of mass at C. Then, `m_(1)x_(1)=m_(2)x_(2) ""`...(1) and `m_(1)(x_(1)-d)=m_(2)(x_(2)-d')""` ...(2) SUBTRACTING (2) and (1) `m_(1)x_(1)-m_(1)d - m_(1)x_(1)=m_(2)x_(2)-m_(2)d'-m_(2)x_(2)` `m_(1)d=m_(2)d'` `d'=(m_(1))/(m_(2))d`