# The factor of tension and frequency increase in a conical pendulum?

by PhoniexGuy
Tags: conical, factor, frequency, increase, pendulum, tension
P: 26
This, is just a concept question:

 A mass is moving in a horizontal circle at the end of a conical pendulum, the string making an angle with the vertical of the cone of 25 degrees. Conditions are changed so that the angle the string makes with the vertical is doubled to 50 degrees. By what factor does the tension increase? By what factor does the frequency increase? I tried to find the tension increase by finding the radius' of the formed circles by setting the length of the string equal to 1, and then dividing the radius of the bigger circle by the radius of the smaller one and got 1.8, but feel like that isn't right. I have no idea how to find the frequency change factor.
My teacher gave the Answer has something like this:

 The general solution for this problem is as follows: From a free body diagram about the mass we get weight m*g acing down& T tension actiung up at angle theta Now summing forces in the vertical we get T*cos(theta) - m*g = 0 or T = m*g/cos(theta) In the horizontal we get T*sin(theta) . This is the centripetal force whcih equals m*a = m*v^2/r Now r = L*sin(theta) where L is the length of the string. So we have T*sin(theta) = m*v^2/r = m*v^2/L*sin(theta) Now sub for T ..... m*g/cos(theta)*sin(theta) = m*v^2/(L*sin(theta)) Now v = 2*pi*L*sin(theta)/t circumference divided by period Note m drops out leaving g*tan(theta) = 4*pi^2*L*sin(theta)/t^2 So solving for T we get ... t = sqrt(4*pi^2*L*cos(theta)/g)) If L = 1 then t = 1.92s..So f = 1/t = 0.523Hz When theta = 50 t = sqrt(4*pi^2*cos(50)/g) = 1.61s so f = 1/t = 0.621Hz So the frequency increases by .621/.523 = 1.19 Now the Tension = m*g/cos(theta) T50/T25 = cos(25)/cos(50) = 1.41
However I understand most of it, except the part where it says:

 Now v = 2*pi*L*sin(theta)/t circumference divided by period Note m drops out leaving g*tan(theta) = 4*pi^2*L*sin(theta)/t^2 So solving for T we get ... t = sqrt(4*pi^2*L*cos(theta)/g)) If L = 1 then t = 1.92s..So f = 1/t = 0.523Hz
What is happening in this? Where does the 4*pi^2*L*sin(theta) come from, and how is v found? why is f = 1/t?

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