A small stone of mass is attached to one end of a light
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics
Problem
A small stone of mass 0.25kg is attached to one end of a light, inextensible string of length 0.60m and is whirled in a vertical circle with uniform speed.
(i) At the lowest point of the circle, which real forces act on the stone, and which of them (fully or partly) provide the centripetal force?
(ii) If the speed of the stone at the lowest point is 4.0ms−1, calculate the tension in the string at that instant.
(iii) Keeping the speed unchanged, find the tension in the string when the stone is at the highest point of the circle. Comment on the difference in the two tension values obtained.