Help Reviewing for exam (continued)

  • Thread starter Thread starter fball558
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Exam
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a ball of mass m attached to a string of length R, swinging in a vertical plane. The focus is on determining the tension in the string at the lowest point of the ball's trajectory after being released from an initial position.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between potential energy, kinetic energy, and centripetal force. Some express confusion regarding the connection between centripetal acceleration and the concepts they have covered.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the forces acting on the ball at the lowest point of its swing. Some participants have provided calculations and reasoning, while others have clarified the relationship between tension, gravitational force, and centripetal force. The discussion reflects a mix of interpretations and attempts to reconcile different approaches.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that they have not covered centripetal acceleration in their studies, which affects their understanding of the problem. There is also mention of a solutions guide that indicates a specific answer, leading to further questioning of the steps taken in the calculations.

fball558
Messages
143
Reaction score
0
problem is
A ball of mass m is attached to a string of length R such that it is free to
swing in the vertical plane. The ball is released from the initial position “A” shown in the
picture. What is the tension in the string when the ball reaches the lowest point “B” of its
trajectory?
A. mg
B. 2mg
C. 3mg (correct answer)
D. mg/R
E. mg2/R

here is my best attempt to deminstrate the pic to you.

--------------------(A) point A inital point connected by string starting at origin (R)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(B) point B final point and want to know tension here

ball travels in arc pattern from A to B not
 
Physics news on Phys.org
fball558 said:
problem is
A ball of mass m is attached to a string of length R such that it is free to
swing in the vertical plane. The ball is released from the initial position “A” shown in the
picture. What is the tension in the string when the ball reaches the lowest point “B” of its
trajectory?
A. mg
B. 2mg
C. 3mg (correct answer)
D. mg/R
E. mg2/R

here is my best attempt to deminstrate the pic to you.

--------------------(A) point A inital point connected by string starting at origin (R)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(B) point B final point and want to know tension here

ball travels in arc pattern from A to B not

Consider the potential energy, changing to kinetic energy and what the corresponding centripetal acceleration at that speed plus its weight will be at the bottom.
 
we have not covered centripetal acceleration. only thing we have done is centripetal force so i don't know how that corresponds to speed.
 
fball558 said:
we have not covered centripetal acceleration. only thing we have done is centripetal force so i don't know how that corresponds to speed.

Centripetal force. Right. Use that.
 
i get 2mg doing this here are my steps
first centripetal force = (mV^2)/r
PE = mgh where h is r (at point A)
so KE = 1/2mv^2
set PE = KE mgr = 1/2mv^2 solve for v^2 to plug in centripetal
multiply each side by 2 to get 2mgr = mv^2
divide my m to get v^2 = 2mgr/m m's cancel to get 2gr (this is v^2)
put this (2gr) into centripetal force (mv^2)/r you get m(2gr) / r r's cancel
you get m(2g) or 2mg
answer B which according to solutions guide is wrong did i do something wrong in these steps??
 
ok, that is correct for calculating the centripetal force acting on the object, the only thing is that you need to understand the forces acting on the object when it is at the bottom of its swing and how they relate to Tension.

in this case:

Tension = Fgravity + Fcentripetal

from here, you just have to plug in your values that you have solved and you should get 'C' for the answer
 
ok so then
tension = Fcent + Fg
tension = 2mg + mg
which would = 3mg
then that matches C
i got a little too excited after i found
Fcent and stopped there lol
thanks to all that helped
it really cleared it up for me
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
11K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
6K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
10K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K