Tethebal| problem, radial acceleration, angle of ball orbit

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Homework Help Overview

The original poster presents a problem involving a ball tied to a string, which is being swung in a circular motion. The context includes calculating the angle the string makes with the vertical as the ball orbits at a specific frequency. The subject area encompasses concepts of circular motion and forces acting on the ball.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between tension in the string, gravitational force, and centripetal force. The original poster expresses uncertainty about the radius and velocity needed for calculations. Others suggest using trigonometric relationships to relate the forces acting on the ball.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different approaches to the problem. Some guidance has been provided regarding the cancellation of mass in the equations, and there is an emphasis on using symbols instead of numerical values in the calculations. However, there is no explicit consensus on the next steps or final approach.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted lack of specific values for radius and velocity, which are critical for solving the problem. Participants are also discussing formatting issues in their posts, indicating a need for clearer communication in mathematical expressions.

izforgoat
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Homework Statement



This is a concept/procedure question. I am playing teth3rbalI with a 1 kilogran ball and it is tied to a meterlong string. When I hit the ball it circles the pole at 1.6 Hz. Find the anglethat the string makes with thepole.

Homework Equations


a[tex]_{r}[/tex]=v[tex]^{2}[/tex]/r
a[tex]_{r}[/tex]=(4[tex]\pi[/tex][tex]^{2}[/tex]r)/T[tex]^{2}[/tex]

T=1/f
f[tex]_{r}[/tex]=ma[tex]_{r}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



So I found the period for one cycle but that's basically it and I'm stuck without a radius or at least a velocity to go by. What am I overlooking?
 

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The whirling string has to make an angle, say 'x', with the vertical in the downward direction. It lies on a cone, whose semi-vertical angle is 'x'. If 'T' is the tension in the string, then mg=T*cos(x). The centipetal force is T*sin(x). The mass m travels in a horizontal plane.

Now you try for a while.
 
hmmm

k so wow, i' not getting very far at all on this.

since Tcos(x) = mg then Tcos(x) = 9.8 N and since T sin(x) = centripedalforce then Tsin= 1kg((4[tex]\pi[/tex][tex]^{2}[/tex]r)/(.625[tex]^{2}[/tex]))

I'm slightly nervous proceeding since my next move would be to do a pythagoras of 9.8[tex]^{2}[/tex] + ((4[tex]\pi[/tex][tex]^{2}[/tex]r)/TimePeriod[tex]^{2}[/tex])[tex]^{2}[/tex] = T[tex]^{2}[/tex] which doesn't seem right nor does it make me any more confident.
 
Last edited:
kk think i got it but does the mass cancel out?
 
It'd be neater if you didn't write the values of g etc in every step. Use symbols and plug in the values later.

Yes, the mass cancels out.

The centripetal force is m*w^2*r= T*sin x.

tan x = Tsin x/Tcos x = mw^2*r/mg =rw^2/g.

You know the value of r, and w is given.
 
izforgoat said:
kk think i got it but does the mass cancel out?

If you look at Shooting Star's post this should become apparent.

It would also help if you formatted your posts in a more readable way. For example [ tex] [ /tex] tags should be used for LaTeX set on its own, whereas you should use [ itex] [ /itex] tags for inline maths. Furthermore, it would help if you either did all your equations in tex, or none of them, since that would prevent strange mixed formatting.

Just a few thoughts, anyway.
 

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