Physics
A child starts eating an ice cream from a fully-filled cone. What happens to its centre of gravity?
- rises continuously
- falls continuously
- remains constant
- none of the above
Answer
falls continuously
Reason — When the cone is fully filled with ice cream, most of the mass is towards the upper part of the cone, so the centre of gravity is relatively high. As the child starts eating the ice cream from the top, the upper mass gradually decreases, leaving more of the remaining mass lower in the cone.
Because the heavier portion shifts downward, the centre of gravity of the cone–ice cream system continuously falls as the child eats it.
Related Questions
Two objects have the same mass but different shapes. Which object would have a higher centre of gravity?
- the one with a larger base
- the one with a smaller base
- both would have the same centre of gravity
- it depends on the material of the object.
A hollow cone is kept upright on a table. When sand is slowly poured in it, the centre of gravity of the cone-sand system will :
- always rise continuously
- always fall continuously
- first falls and then rises
- remain fixed at the same point
A hollow spherical tank is half-filled with oil. If water (denser than oil) is added, the overall centre of gravity will :
- move upward
- move downward
- remain at the same point
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A hollow rectangular box is standing upright. A heavy brick is placed on top of the box. The centre of gravity of the system will :
- move downward
- move upward
- remain at the same Point
- first move up and then down