Angular Momentum of a rotating mass

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grassstrip1
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Diagram of a conical pendulum: a bob on a cord hangs from a fixed pivot, with labels 600 mm for the cord length and 300 mm for the radius of the upper circular path, with the lower path labelled A and the upper path labelled B, and an arrow labelled F pulling down on the cord.
1. Homework Statement

When the 3.2-kg bob is given a horizontal speed of 1.5 m/s, it begins to rotate around the horizontal circular path A. The force F on the cord is increased, the bob rises and then rotates around the horizontal circular path B. (picture included)

Homework Equations


L = I ω v = rω

The Attempt at a Solution


The solution from the book goes into a long procedure with summation of forces to find the angle etc. I tried this

Since there is no moment about the z axis angular momentum is conserved about the z axis. I1ω1 = I2ω2
For a particle I= mr2 so initially, I = (3.2)(0.6sinθ)2 and after I = (3.2)(0.3sinθ)2. For ω, initially it is (0.6)(sinθ)(1.5m/s) at the end is is (0.3sinθ)(v2)

Setting these equal to each other and solving gives v=12m/s But the answer is 2m/s Not sure where I am going wrong. Thank you!
 
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  • Diagram of a conical pendulum: a bob on a cord hangs from a fixed pivot and swings in horizontal circles A (lower, long cord, labelled 600 mm) and B (upper, shorter radius, labelled 300 mm). A downward arrow labelled F acts on the cord below the pivot.
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You don't seem to mark theta on your diagram. I assume it is the angle the chord makes with the z axis. If so, it will not be the same in both positions.
As the tension increases, the "orbit" becomes more horizontal and theta changes.
 
Ah that would explain it. I think i need to find theta using Newton's laws. Then I can apply it to the conservation of angular momentum.

Thank You.
 
Remember that the reason the ball is not just spinning with the chord horizontal, is gravity. The tension in the chord is providing the opposition to gravity as well as centripetal force.