Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A small ball of mass is tied to a vertical rod by two light strings, each long. The strings are fixed to the rod at points P and Q, with P above Q, as shown in the figure. The rod spins about its own axis, and the ball moves in a horizontal circle with both strings taut. Take .
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. , string length , , .
Step 1. Geometry. The ball is level with the midpoint of PQ, from each point. So each string makes an angle with the rod, where and . The radius of the circle is .
Step 2. Forces. Let be the upper tension and the lower one.
Vertically: .
Along the radius: , so .
Together:
Step 3. At . and . So and .
Step 4. The lower string goes slack when , that is when . Here , half of PQ, so
Notice that this depends only on the distance PQ, not on the length of the strings.
Step 5. Breaking. is always larger than , so the upper string breaks first. Set : . So and .
Answer: (a) Upper string , lower string . (b) Below . (c) The upper string, at .
Check. , which should equal .
Watch out. Below the lower string is slack, and the ball hangs on the upper string alone, as a simple conical pendulum. Then it no longer stays level with the midpoint of PQ.
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