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Question #43259
The Question
A uniform solid sphere of mass and radius has a total charge uniformly distributed throughout its volume. It is initially spinning with an angular velocity about an axis passing through its center. Uncharged cosmic dust falls radially towards the center of the sphere and sticks to its surface. This process continues slowly until the dust forms a uniform thin spherical shell of mass and radius (assuming the thickness of the dust layer is negligible). No external torques act on the system during this process. If the initial magnetic dipole moment of the sphere is , what is the final magnetic dipole moment of the system after the dust has settled?
Options
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Multi-Concept_Bridge
Master problems that require linking physics and math concepts to solve complex competitive questions.
Concepts Behind This Question
Gyromagnetic Ratio Invariance|Rigid Body Constraints|System of Particles and Rotational Motion
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
This question tests the limits of the gyromagnetic ratio () and the principle of angular momentum conservation in variable mass systems.
Students often blindly apply the gyromagnetic ratio formula, assuming it holds universally for the entire system.
Here, the accretion of uncharged dust changes the total mass and moment of inertia, but the charge distribution remains unchanged.
By using , students fall into the trap of assuming the mass and charge distributions remain proportional, leading to the incorrect answer of .
The correct approach requires decoupling the kinematic constraint (angular velocity determined by total moment of inertia) from the electromagnetic output (magnetic moment determined solely by the charged portion's rotation).
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Physics |
| Chapter | Magnetism and Matter - Class 12 |
| Concept | Gyromagnetic Ratio Invariance |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 7 |
| Target Solve Time | 160 sec |
| Access | Free |