Conical Pendulum Concept Questions

[Taschen]

Homework Statement

Q1. I am currently doing a physics assignment where i must answer some concept questions about a conical pendulum. So here they are:
Does the centripetal acceleration and/or the net force alter if the launch angle changes?

Q2. Would the centripetal acceleration and/or centripetal force change if the length of the string attached to the bob was different? Why or why not?

Q3. Would a conical pendulum act differently on Earth versus on the moon? If so, how?


A1. I answered Yes because the radius of the circle formed would change, and the centripetal acceleration and the net force are both inversely proportional to the radius. Is this true?

A2. No answer to this one. I really don't know.

A3. Again no answer to this one. I would guess that because the weight of the object is less on the moon, the tension in the string would be less. Can anyone clarify?

 

[rock.freak667]

In your free body diagram, draw the forces and then use ΣF_y=0. The horizontal component of the force will provide the centripetal force.

You should now have two equations which should help you easily answer your questions.

 

[Taschen]

So i retried the 3 questions and i got:
A1. Both acceleration and force change because the radius changes.
A2. Both acceleration and force change because the radius changes.
A3. Nothing would change because weight only affects the y-component of the pendulum.

Can anyone verify these answers?

 

[rock.freak667]

So i retried the 3 questions and i got:
A1. Both acceleration and force change because the radius changes.
A2. Both acceleration and force change because the radius changes.
A3. Nothing would change because weight only affects the y-component of the pendulum.

Can anyone verify these answers?

1 and 2 are correct.

For 3.

Tsinθ=mg

Tcosθ=mv²/r

if 'g' changes, then so would 'T', right?

 

[Taschen]

Oh i see. because Sinθ is constant then T has to change. That means that the tension on the string is decreased when on the moon. Thanks for the help!