Circular plate of diameter d, and a square plate of edge d are kept fl...
Given Information:
- The diameter of the circular plate is 'd'.
- The edge of the square plate is also 'd'.
- The centers of both plates are separated by a distance 'R'.
- The density and thickness of both objects are the same.
- The line joining the two centers is normal to one pair of the edges of the square.
- The center of mass (C) of the system lies at the midpoint of the edge.
To Find:
The distance between the two centers.
Explanation:
Step 1: Identifying the Symmetry
- The given figure shows that the square plate and the circular plate have a symmetry axis of rotation.
- The line joining the two centers is normal to one pair of the edges of the square.
- This means that the system has a rotational symmetry of 180 degrees about the line joining the centers.
Step 2: Center of Mass (C)
- The center of mass of the system lies at the midpoint of the edge of the square.
- This implies that the center of mass lies on the line joining the centers of the circular and square plates.
- Let's call the distance between the center of mass and the center of the circular plate as 'x'.
Step 3: Symmetry Analysis
- The system has a rotational symmetry of 180 degrees.
- The center of mass (C) is equidistant from the centers of both plates.
- Therefore, the distance between the center of the circular plate and the center of mass is also 'x'.
- The distance between the center of the square plate and the center of mass is also 'x'.
Step 4: Distance Between the Centers
- The distance between the two centers is the sum of the distances between each center and the center of mass.
- Hence, the distance between the two centers is 2x.
Step 5: Using Geometric Analysis to Find x
- The line joining the two centers is normal to one pair of the edges of the square.
- This implies that the distance between the center of the square plate and the center of mass is half the length of the edge of the square.
- Therefore, x = d/2.
Step 6: Final Answer
- The distance between the two centers is 2x = 2 * (d/2) = d.
Answer:
- The distance between the two centers is 'd'.