Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

QJEEM23Ph6523: JEE Main 2023 Physics - Class 11 JEEM23Ph6523 Solution: If the earth suddenly shrinks to 1 64 th of its original volume …

If the earth suddenly shrinks to 164th of its original volume with its mass remaining the same, the period of rotation of earth becomes 24xh. The value of x is __________.

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

JEE Main 2023 (Online) 10th April Morning Shift Physics - Gravitation Question 42 English Explanation

From the conservation of angular momentum, we have:

25MR2ω1=25M(R4)2ω2\frac{2}{5}MR^2\omega_1 = \frac{2}{5}M\left(\frac{R}{4}\right)^2\omega_2

This simplifies to:

MR2ω1=MR216ω2MR^2\omega_1 = \frac{MR^2}{16}\omega_2

From this, we can derive the ratio of the initial and final angular velocities:

ω1ω2=116\frac{\omega_1}{\omega_2} = \frac{1}{16}

Since the angular velocity (\omega) is inversely proportional to the period of rotation (T) ((\omega = \frac{2\pi}{T})), we can write:

T2T1=116\frac{T_2}{T_1} = \frac{1}{16}

We can express this ratio in terms of the variable (x):

T1T2=161=24x\frac{T_1}{T_2} = \frac{16}{1} = \frac{24}{x}

Solving this equation for (x) gives:

x=16x = 16

So, if the Earth suddenly shrinks to ( 164\frac{1}{64} )th of its original volume with its mass remaining the same, the period of rotation of Earth becomes ( 2416\frac{24}{16} )h, or 1.5 hours. Therefore, the value of (x) is 16.

Related Learning Resources & Exam Preparation