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Free Physics Study Material for CSIR NET, IIT JAM, GATE, JEST & TIFR

by Pravegaa Education
Pravegaa PYQ Series · Volume 2: Classical Mechanics & Special Relativity

CM06: Non-Inertial Frames

17 previous-year questions with complete solutions, from IIT JAM, GATE, CSIR NET-JRF, JEST and TIFR, arranged from IIT JAM and GATE through to TIFR and from the most recent paper backwards. Click Show solution under any question.

  • IIT JAM: 4
  • GATE: 1
  • CSIR NET: 2
  • JEST: 3
  • TIFR GS: 7
CM06.1IIT JAM 2026, Q33MSQ | 2 marks

Consider a particle of mass \(m\) in a rotating frame. The force acting on the particle is expressed as \(\vec{F}=(F_1+F_2)\hat{e}_r+(F_3+F_4)\hat{e}_\theta\), where \(\hat{e}_r\) and \(\hat{e}_\theta\) are the radial and angular unit vectors, respectively, and \(F_1=m\ddot{r}\), \(F_2=-mr\dot{\theta}^2\), \(F_3=mr\ddot{\theta}\), \(F_4=2m\dot{r}\dot{\theta}\). Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. \(\hat{e}_r\) and \(\hat{e}_\theta\) are not constant unit vectors

  2. \(F_1\) and \(F_3\) are fictitious forces

  3. \(F_2\) and \(F_4\) are fictitious forces

  4. \(F_1\) and \(F_2\) are zero in uniform circular motion

Show solution

(A) \(\hat{e}_r=\cos\theta\,\hat\imath+\sin\theta\,\hat\jmath\) and \(\hat{e}_\theta=-\sin\theta\,\hat\imath+\cos\theta\,\hat\jmath\) change direction with \(\theta\): \(\dot{\hat{e}}_r=\dot\theta\,\hat{e}_\theta\) and \(\dot{\hat{e}}_\theta=-\dot\theta\,\hat{e}_r\). True.

(B) \(F_1=m\ddot r\) and \(F_3=mr\ddot\theta\) are the “\(m\times\)acceleration” terms an observer co-rotating with the radius vector would measure directly. They are not fictitious. False.

(C) \(F_2=-mr\dot\theta^2\) and \(F_4=2m\dot r\dot\theta\) arise only from the rotation of the unit vectors. Seen from the rotating frame they appear as the centrifugal (\(mr\dot\theta^2\) outward) and Coriolis (\(-2m\dot r\dot\theta\)) pseudo-forces. True.

(D) In uniform circular motion \(\ddot r=0\), so \(F_1=0\), but \(F_2=-mr\dot\theta^2\neq0\) (the centripetal term). False. \[ \boxed{\text{(A) and (C)}} \]

Answer: (A), (C)

CM06.2IIT JAM 2021, Q15MCQ | 2 marks

A particle initially at the origin in an inertial frame \(S\), has a constant velocity \(V\hat i\). Frame \(S'\) is rotating about the \(z\)-axis with angular velocity \(\omega\) (anticlockwise). The coordinate axes of \(S'\) coincide with those of \(S\) at \(t=0\). The velocity of the particle \((V_x',V_y')\) in the \(S'\) frame, at \(t=\dfrac{\pi}{2\omega}\) is

  1. \(\left(-\dfrac{V\pi}{2},-V\right)\)

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