Where Will the Thread Break When a Stone Hangs by a Fine Thread?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the mechanics of tension in a thread supporting a stone, specifically analyzing where the thread will break under different pulling scenarios. When a sharp pull is applied to the dangling thread, the thread is likely to break below the stone due to the sudden increase in tension. Conversely, a slow and steady pull results in the thread breaking above the stone, as the tension gradually increases and stabilizes. The analysis incorporates the mass of the stones and gravitational acceleration (g=10 m/s²) to evaluate the tension changes in the thread.

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iampaul
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Homework Statement


A stone hangs by a fine thread from the ceiling and a section of the same thread dangles from the bottom of the stone.

Homework Equations



a. If a person gives a sharp pull on the dangling thread, where is the thread likely to break: below the stone or above it?
b. What if the person gives a slow and steady pull?
Explain your answer.

The Attempt at a Solution


I think that the answer for a is below while for b the answer is above, but I don't know exactly how. Can someone please explain this in detail. Thanks
 
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iampaul said:

Homework Statement


A stone hangs by a fine thread from the ceiling and a section of the same thread dangles from the bottom of the stone.

Homework Equations



a. If a person gives a sharp pull on the dangling thread, where is the thread likely to break: below the stone or above it?
b. What if the person gives a slow and steady pull?
Explain your answer.

The Attempt at a Solution


I think that the answer for a is below while for b the answer is above, but I don't know exactly how. Can someone please explain this in detail. Thanks

have a look at the tensions in the string, if the stone has a mass of 10kg, and a second 2 kg stone was attached to the bottom of the lower string.

What happens to those tensions is the 2 kg stone is replaced by a 4kg stone? 6kg? 8kg? 12kg? 14kg? ...

That should give you a clue for part (b)

Answer me that and I will give you a hint about (a)
EDIT: for speed of calculation, and because each stone could have been a little heavier any way, use g=10 m/s^2
 

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