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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
In the figure shown, the blocks have equal masses. Friction, mass of the string and the mass of the pulley are negligible. The magnitude of the acceleration of the centre of mass of the two blocks is (Acceleration due to gravity \(=g\)).

PhysicsCenter of Mass Momentum and CollisionAP EAMCETAP EAMCET 2019 (23 Apr Shift 1)
Options:
  • A \(\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{\sqrt{2}}\right) g\)
  • B \(\frac{g}{2}\)
  • C \((\sqrt{3}-1) g\)
  • D \(\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{4 \sqrt{2}}\right) g\)
Solution:
1088 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: \(\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{4 \sqrt{2}}\right) g\)
For a pulley and block system on a smooth double inclined plane as shown below


Force equation for both the blocks,
\(\Rightarrow \quad m g \cos 30^{\circ}-T=m a\) ...(i)
\(\Rightarrow \quad T-m g \cos 60^{\circ}=m a\) ...(ii)
From above equation we get,
\(a=\frac{(\sqrt{3}-1)}{4} g\)
\(\because\) Magnitude of the acceleration of centre of mass,
\(\mathbf{a}_{C M}=\left|\frac{m \mathbf{a}_1+m \mathbf{a}_2}{m+m}\right|\)
Here, \(\mathbf{a}_{C M}=\left|\frac{\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{4}\right) g \hat{\mathbf{i}}+\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{4}\right) g \hat{\mathbf{j}}}{2}\right|\)
\(\begin{aligned}
& =\frac{g}{2} \sqrt{\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{4}\right)^2+\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{4}\right)^2} \\
& =\frac{g}{2} \times \sqrt{2} \times \frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{4} \\
& =\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{4 \sqrt{2}}\right) g
\end{aligned}\)
Hence, option (d) is correct.

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