A communications satellite consists of a central bus of mass located at on a straight…
PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · System of Particles and Rotational Motion · System of Particles and Rotational Motion
Problem
A communications satellite consists of a central bus of mass 500kg located at x=0m on a straight track and two identical solar-panel assemblies, each of mass 50kg, attached at x=−4m (left panel) and x=+4m (right panel). Initially, the three components form a single system. The right-hand panel is then jettisoned while the other two components remain fixed in place. Which of the following statements best describes the new location of the center of mass of the remaining two-object system?
(a) It remains at x=0m because the much larger bus mass dominates the calculation.
(b) It shifts toward the left panel to about x=−2m, halfway between the bus and the panel.
(c) It shifts toward the left panel but remains less than 0.5m from the bus’s center at x=0m.
(d) It shifts toward the right by about 0.36m because the jettisoned panel’s mass is removed from that side.