Question

On the International Space Station an object with mass m = 250 g is attached to a massless string L = 0.87 m. The string can handle a tension of T = 8.7 N before breaking. The object undergoes uniform circular motion, being spun around by the string horizontally. What is the maximum speed v the mass can have before the string breaks? Give your answer in units of m/s.

Answer 1

v = 5.5 m / s

Step-by-step explanation:

For this exercise let's use Newton's second law, where the acceleration is centripetal

F = ma

a = v² / r

Before starting we reduce the mass to the SI system

m = 250 g (1 kg / 1000g)

m = 0.250 kg

Let's calculate the velocity for when the forces equal to T = 8.7N

T = m v² / r

v² = T r / m

v = √ T r / m

v = √ (8.7 0.87 /0.250)

v = 5.5 m / s