# Centripetal Force / Tension / Speed

1. Aug 17, 2009

### bumblebeeliz

Centripetal Force / Tension / Speed (HELP!)

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A 100 g bead is free to slide along an 80 cm long piece of string ABC. The ends of the string are attached to a vertical pole at A and C, which are 40 cm apart. When the pole is rotated about its axis, AB becomes horizontal.
a. Find the tension in the string.
b. Find the speed of the bead at B.

2. Relevant equations

Fr= mv2 / r

v= 2$$\pi$$r / T

v= $$\sqrt{}m /r$$ ?

Ft = Fn - mg???

3. The attempt at a solution

m = 100g = 0.1m
length =80cm

I drew a free-body diagram with just the beed. Normal force going up, mg going down and tension going towards the pole on line A and C.

I think b) is:

v= $$\sqrt{}$$ rg
= $$\sqrt{}$$ 0.4m * 9.80m/s2
= 1.979 m/s

I usually know where to go from here but im really stuck with the Tension.
Any ideas? :)

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Last edited: Aug 17, 2009
2. Aug 17, 2009

### Staff: Mentor

No, the radius of the bead's motion is not 40 cm. The distance AC is 40 cm; use that fact, the length of the string, and some trig to figure out the radius and angles.

There's no "normal force" since the bead is not resting on a surface. There's just the tension force from the string (which acts twice: once toward A and once toward C) and the weight.

Apply Newton's 2nd law for both the horizontal and vertical directions.

3. Aug 17, 2009

### bumblebeeliz

Trig:

I know I have a 90 degree angle and 40cm between A & C. But I cant seem to find the right formula. Are you talking about the c2=a2+b2?

Or the sin0=opp/hyp? Im just having trouble putting the hypotenuse on the other side of the equation. Does it equal to:
sin0 = 40cm / hyp
hyp= 40cm/sin-1

Tension:

I always seem add the normal force automatically. I think thats a bad habit. So if its in the air or accelerating vertically, it does not have a normal force?

Should I continue with this formula:

For B-A: Ft sin0 = mv2/r
For B-C: Ft cos0 = mv2/r

Do I use v from my first message: $$\sqrt{}$$ rg = 1.979 m/s

4. Aug 17, 2009

### Staff: Mentor

You'll need that formula plus the fact that the length of the string (which comprises two of the sides) is given. That will allow you to find all three sides of the triangle.

A normal force is exerted between two objects (or an object and a surface). The only thing touching the bead is the string.

The direction of the centripetal acceleration is horizontal (to the left in your diagram).

No, that is incorrect. First get the sides of the triangle, then set up your force equations. The tension and the speed will be the unknowns in your equations, which you'll solve for.

5. Aug 18, 2009

### bumblebeeliz

c2 = a2+b2
c (hyp) = 80-b
sin0 = 40 / 80-b sin0 * 80 - 40 = b
cos0 = b / 80-b cos0 * 80 /2 = b

cos0 * 80 /2 = sin0 * 80 - 40
cos0 * 80 = sin0 * 80 - 40 * 2
cos0 / sin0 = 80-40 *2 / 80
tan0 = 1
0 = tan-1 1
0 = 45 degrees?

I think im having a lot of trouble with the trig. I reviewed trig material but I cant seem to get it! Any resources I could look at?

Tcb sin0 -ma
T = Tcb cos0 ?

Last edited: Aug 18, 2009
6. Aug 18, 2009

### Staff: Mentor

OK. Note that "a" is the vertical side of the triangle, thus a = 40 cm.

You have two equations with two unknowns. Solve for b & c. (Note that "b", the horizontal side of the triangle, will be the radius you'll use in your formula for centripetal acceleration.)