What is the definition of a way and how does it relate to travel?

[Orodruin]

I rest my case!

it is a very poorly worded question.

 

[Herman Trivilino]

The third answer from the top would be the correct answer if the pendulum were not said to be "in free fall". Maybe the author has a different understanding of "free fall" from everybody else.

More likely, there was some kind of editorial error made when the question was written. Perhaps a prior version contained that phrase and it was determined that there was no correct answer. So they decided to remove it and it never got removed in a latter re-write.

I bet that the grading algorithm would mark it correct if a student chose the third answer.

 

[kuruman]

I entered in the Google search engine the statement of the problem in (quotation marks) and got two hits. One was our PF thread and the other from coursehero.com. This is a site where students get help with their course work for a fee.

I did not find the question because they wanted me to sign up and the display was blurred until I did. This is a site where students get help with their course work for a fee. However, I found an interesting tool that I tried for free. It is an AI powered paraphraser! Just what is needed to further students' education. I tried it (free trial offer) by entering the last paragraph in my post #12. Here are the results. Draw your own conclusions.

My text from post #12
Obviously we will not know the intentions of the author until we hear from OP what the supposedly correct answer is, if OP knows. I am only guessing that the author of the problem intended to write a question that would make one think beyond the plug-and-chug situation which has very little pedagogical value.

AI Paraphraser, a.k.a. Quillbot, text
https://www.coursehero.com/tools/paraphraser/
Naturally, until we find out from OP—assuming OP is aware of the ostensibly correct response—we will not be aware of the author's intentions. I can only speculate that the problem's author wanted to pose a query that would force readers to consider options other than the plug-and-chug scenario, which is incredibly low value in terms of education.

 

[256bits]

Or if the entire pendulum is in free fall, as specified by the problem

Theoretically, microgravity on the order of 1^-5
would produce a tension in the string while the ensemble is in free fall.

Practically, difficult to achieve a measurement due to
- difficulties with modelling the structure as being rigid or elastic.
- Initial conditions of support of the ensemble either being suspended from the top or resting on a base.

 

[Herman Trivilino]

I entered in the Google search engine the statement of the problem in (quotation marks) and got two hits.

About 10 years ago I taught a SAT physics test prep short course for pre-meds. The textbook we used had questions with errors like this peppered throughout. It was a terrible eye-opening experience. Despite that I did it two more times because the pay was outrageously high. Grant money.

 

[mancity]

The correct solution, as given by the system, is 1.8s.

 

[kuruman]

I heard back from my instructor today, and the correct solution, as given by my instructor, is to directly apply the formula for the period of a pendulum to get 1.8s.

That's what I was afraid of, and thank you for asking. I don't mean to be pushy but, if you get a chance, do you mind asking your instructor what kind of information is conveyed by the "free fall" addition to the statement of the problem? Just in case you see "free fall" again in the future, mind you. I think all of us would like to know what your instructor thinks and says about it.

 

[nasu]

This is not necessarily the correct solution but the solution which will give you the credit for that question. He can decide about the marking scheme but this decision will not make a faulty question right.

 

[hutchphd]

Is the course titled "Koan Physics"? Seems to me a badly misguided attempt by someone........

 

[haruspex]

The correct solution, as given by the system, is 1.8s.

Ah, so "free fall" just means nothing is getting in the way of the pendulum.

@laser: that was intended as humour

 

[Orodruin]

Ah, so "free fall" just means nothing is getting in the way of the pendulum.

Ftfy

 

[kuruman]

Ah, so "free fall" just means nothing is getting in the way of the pendulum.

No strings attached?

 

[haruspex]

No strings attached?

"way: a road, track, or path for travelling along."