Solving for Horizontal Displacement: Ball on a String

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the horizontal displacement of a ball on a string that moves in a vertical circle before the string breaks at the highest point. The centripetal acceleration is given as a, and the radius of the circle is R. The initial confusion involved determining the ball's velocity and direction after the string breaks. It was clarified that the ball travels horizontally first before falling to the ground, which simplifies the problem to kinematics. Ultimately, the participant successfully solved the problem after manipulating the equations correctly.
aquapod17
Messages
11
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A ball on a string moves in a vertical circle of radius R at a constant speed with a centripetal acceleration a. At its
lowest point, the ball is a negligible height above the ground. After several revolutions, the string breaks at the highest
point in the motion. In terms of R, a, and g, find the horizontal displacement of the ball from the time the string breaks.


Homework Equations


ac=v2/r


The Attempt at a Solution


I found v = √acr but I don't know where to go from here.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If it breaks at it's highest point, what direction will the ball be traveling?

How high off the ground was it when it was released?

Doesn't it just become a simple kinematic problem?
 
If it breaks at its highest point it will travel horizontally first, but then reach the ground.

It is 2R off the ground when it was released.

OMG I GOT IT! Thanks so much! I just had trouble manipulating the equation. Embarrassing.
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Ball on a string thrown around a spool
Replies
3
Views
840
A ball is thrown w/initial speed vi at an angle 𝜃i with the horizontal
Replies
5
Views
1K
Radial Acceleration on a string
Replies
4
Views
2K
Oblique soccer shot calculation task
Replies
38
Views
3K
Contact Mechanics: Deformation of a ball on a surface
Replies
3
Views
1K
Horizontal impulse on a ball at rest on a plane (with friction)
Replies
14
Views
3K
Circular motion, string and ball in a horizontal circle
Replies
9
Views
4K
How Does Pulling the String Affect the Speed of a Ball in Circular Motion?
Replies
4
Views
2K
How Does Roughness Affect the Time Period of a Ball Rolling on a Vertical Hoop?
Replies
1
Views
1K
Tension in string when ball is at the top of a circle
Replies
7
Views
9K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top