Question

A shell fired from a gun at some angle to the horizontal, explodes in the mid-air. The centre of mass of the shell fragments will move

• A. Vertically down
• B. Horizontally
• C. Along the same parabolic path along which the ‘intact’ shell, was moving
• D. Along tangent to the parabolic path of the ‘intact’ shell, at the point of explosion.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Along the same parabolic path along which the ‘intact’ shell, was moving

Since the explosion is due to internal forces they do not change the momentum of centre of mass. Hence the centre of mass will continue to maintain its original motion. Hence the correct choice is (c).