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Topic Centre of mass
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 9 years (2017–2026), peaking in 2017.
Key insights
- Most tested in GEO — 2 of 3 PYQs
- Most asked in 2017
- Recurs across 3 years (2017–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2017 → GEO 2022
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (3 of 3) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
GEO2026
In which of the following cases, the centre of mass of a metallic rod is definitely not at its centre?
- A The density of the metallic rod continuously decreases from left to right.
- B The density of the metallic rod continually increases from left to right.
- C The density of the metallic rod decreases from left to right up to the centre and then increases.
- D The density of the metallic rod increases from left to right up to the centre and then decreases.
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
GEO2022
The centre of gravity of a system of rigid bodies coincides with their centre of mass if and only if
- A their centre of mass is at their geometrical centre
- B the acceleration due to gravity is same throughout the system of bodies ✓
- C the rigid bodies have same uniform mass densities
- D the rigid bodies are very large
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
CDS2017
For which one of the following does the centre of mass lie outside the body?
- A A fountain pen
- B A cricket ball
- C A ring ✓
- D A book
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
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