How Fast Will the Ball Move at Point A After the String Breaks?

[cheerspens]

Homework Statement

The attached figure shows a 2.0 kg metal ball suspended by two strings.
If the string on the left breaks anf friction can be neglected, how fast will the ball be moving at point A?

Homework Equations

GPE=mgh
KE=(1/2)mv²

The Attempt at a Solution

Is it possible to solve this problem without knowing the height from the ground that the ball is located?

 

[Integral]

Yes, all you need is the change in height.

 

[cheerspens]

Is there any way to solve without it because there was no height mentioned in the given problem?
Besides the fact that the ball is suspended 0.4 meters below its support and the string is 0.6 meters long.

 

[jupiter13]

You are on the right track in using trig to solve for the angle (based on the information you added to the diagram). You only need to look at the y-component of the triangle that the string makes with the top surface. That is what your height change is.

 

[cheerspens]

So I have mgh=mgh+.5mv² and I need to solve for v. How do I know what h (the height) is on either side of the problem? Is is 0.4 meters?

 

[sentient 6]

why is mgh = mgh + 0.5mv^2 ? at A the pendulum is at maximum K.E. while at the initial displacement and B the pendulum has max P.E. so 0.5mv^2 = mgh. you can find h as the length of the pendulum is 6 and the perpendicular height is 4 at the initial. So using that info. solve it all for v.