Question

The distance between the
centres of carbon and oxygen
atoms in the carbon monoxide
gas molecule is 1.12 x 10-10m
. The distance of centre of mass
of the molecule relative to
carbon atom is x x 10-10m .
Then 'x' value is​

Answer 1

Explanation:

Let m

1

and m

2

be the masses of carbon and oxygen atom respectively. Let 'd' be the distance of separation between the center of carbon and oxygen atoms.

Let x

1

be the position of the carbon

and x

2

be the position of the oxygen atom

We can write the center of mass of this system as:

x

CM

=

m

1

+m

2

m

1

x

1

+m

2

x

2

......(1)

Here we need to find the position of the center of mass of CO molecule with respect to carbon atom

So, x

1

=0 m$ and x

2

=1.12×10

−10

m

m

1

mass of carbon atom =12 U

and m

1

mass of oxygen atom =16 U

Now,

x

CM

=

12+16

12×0+16×1.12×10

−10

x

CM

=6.4×10

−11

m

x

CM

=0.64×10

−10

m

Hence the position of center of mass of CO molecule with respect to carbon atom =0.64×10

−10

m