Question

Which of the points is likely position of the centre of mass of the system shown in the figure?

• A. $A$
• B. $D$
• C. $B$
• D. $C$

Answer 1

The correct option is B $D$

Ideally if this rectangular configuration was only filled with air or sand, the centre of mass would have been at the intersection point of the diagonals lying on either of the diagonals like C. But here since half of the portion is filled with air and the other half is filled with sand, sand being denser than air, equal volume of sand will be heavier than equal volume of air. So the centre of mass will be slightly shifted towards the heavier mass here, towards the sand. Hence position D is the correct answer.