Q. A cart of mass $M$ is tied by one end of a massless rope of length $10\ m$. The other end of the rope is in the hands of a man of mass $M$. The entire system is on a smooth horizontal surface. The man is at $x = 0$ and the cart at $x = 10m$. If the man pulls the cart by the rope, the man and the cart will meet at the point
A) $x = 0$
B) $x = 5m$
C) $x = 10m$
D) They will never meet
Explanation
(b) In the absence external force, position of centre of mass remain same therefore they will meet at their centre of mass
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.