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A 0.300 kg pendulum bobpasses through the lowest part of its path at a speedof 3

ID: 1742987 • Letter: A

Question

A 0.300 kg pendulum bobpasses through the lowest part of its path at a speedof 3.30 m/s. (a) What is the tension in the pendulum cable at this point if thependulum is 80.0 cm long?
N

(b) When the pendulum reaches its highest point, what angle doesthe cable make with the vertical?
°

(c) What is the tension in the pendulum cable when the pendulumreaches its highest point?
N (a) What is the tension in the pendulum cable at this point if thependulum is 80.0 cm long?
N

(b) When the pendulum reaches its highest point, what angle doesthe cable make with the vertical?
°

(c) What is the tension in the pendulum cable when the pendulumreaches its highest point?
N

Explanation / Answer

(a) Two forces act on the pendulum bob:
(i) its weight, mg, downwards and
(ii) tension, T, in the cable, upwards.
The resultant of these two forces in the upwards direction,
T - mg = mv^2/r, where v = velocity of the bob and r = cablelength.
T = m(g + v^2/r)
= (0.300)[9.8 + (3.30)^2/0.800] ----> 80.0 cm =0.800 m
= 7.024 N

(b) Let h = vertical distance of the highest point from the lowestpoint, and
= angle made by the cable with the vertical at thatinstant.
Then, h = r - r cos = r(1 - cos) =2rsin^2(/2)
h = (2r)*sin^2(/2) -----> ( 1 )

When the bob reaches the highest point, its K.E. at the lowestpoint gets converted to P.E. at the highest point.
So, (1/2)mv^2 = mgh
h = v^2/2g ---> ( 2 )

From eqns. ( 1 ) and ( 2 ),
(2r)*sin^2(/2) = v^2/2g
sin(/2) = v / 2(rg)
sin(/2) = 3.3 / 2(0.8)(9.8)
sin(/2) = 0.59
= 72.3°

(c) At the highest point, its velocity is zero. So no centripetalforce on it. Hence, T should equal the component of mg in itsdirection.
T = mg cos 72.3° = (0.3)(9.8) (0.030)
T = 0.088N -- -- Hope this helps.