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Chapter 11 of 14
Syllabus

System of Particles and Rotational Motion — Syllabus

CBSE · Class 11 · Physics

What System of Particles and Rotational Motion covers in CBSE Class 11 Physics: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session.

124 questions88 flashcards16 formulas & key relations5 concepts

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4 Topics · CBSE Class 11 Physics · 2026-27

Topics in System of Particles and Rotational Motion

1

1. Rigid Body and Types of Motion

  • A rigid body is a body with a perfectly definite and unchanging shape, and the distances between all pairs of particles do not change.
  • No real body is truly rigid, because real bodies deform under forces, but the deformation is often negligible.
  • A rigid body not fixed in any way is either in pure translation or in a combination of translation and rotation.
2

2. Centre of Mass and Centre of Gravity

  • The centre of mass is the mass-weighted mean position of a system of particles.
  • If the origin is chosen at the centre of mass, then Σ mi ri = 0.
  • For two particles of equal mass, the centre of mass lies exactly midway between them.
3

3. Motion of Centre of Mass and Linear Momentum

  • Only external forces determine the motion of the centre of mass.
  • Internal forces cancel in pairs by Newton's third law.
  • The centre of mass moves as if all the mass of the system were concentrated there and all external forces acted there.
4

4. Vector Product, Torque and Angular Momentum

  • The vector product of two vectors gives a vector perpendicular to the plane of the two vectors.
  • The magnitude of the vector product is ab sinθ.
  • The vector product is not commutative: a × b is not equal to b × a.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Motion, forces, and equilibrium of extended bodies as systems of particles

Rigid bodyCentre of massMotion of centre of massLinear momentum of systemVector productAngular velocityTorqueAngular momentum

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in System of Particles and Rotational Motion for CBSE Class 11 Physics?
Key topics in System of Particles and Rotational Motion include Rigid Body and Types of Motion, Centre of Mass and Centre of Gravity, Motion of Centre of Mass and Linear Momentum, Vector Product, Torque and Angular Momentum. Study these first, then practise questions on each for Class 11 exams.
How should I revise System of Particles and Rotational Motion for Class 11 exams?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 124 practice questions on System of Particles and Rotational Motion. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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