Help with conical pendulum problem

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pammy345
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Homework Statement



okay here is the problem: A conical pendulum is formed by attaching a 500g ball to a 1.0m long string, then allowing the mass to move in a horizontal circle of radius 20cm. What is the tension in the string?

Homework Equations



My professor gave a hint that said use the fact that the vertical component of acceleration is zero since there is no vertical motion.

If i use the equation Tcos(theta)=mg, i get the given answer 5N. if this is correct should my Tension force be on the y-axis at 90 degrees on my FBD and my weight force on the y-axis at 270 degrees?
 
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pammy345 said:
If i use the equation Tcos(theta)=mg, i get the given answer 5N. if this is correct should my Tension force be on the y-axis at 90 degrees on my FBD and my weight force on the y-axis at 270 degrees?
Sounds good to me :approve: