Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A bucket of water, of mass in all, is whirled on a rope in a vertical circle of radius . Taking :
A body moving at speed on a circle of radius needs a net force toward the centre:
It is supplied by a real force: tension, friction, a normal reaction or gravity.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. , , .
Plan. At the top, weight and tension both point to the centre. At the bottom, the tension points to the centre and the weight away.
Step 1. The top. With : , so .
Step 2. The bottom speed. , so .
Step 3. Tension at the bottom. .
Answer: (a) . (b) . (c) .
Check. is six times the weight, . This is why a rope is most likely to snap at the bottom.
Watch out. The water stays in at the top not because of an outward force. It stays in because the bucket accelerates down at least as fast as the water would fall.
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