Final answer:
A conical pendulum is a special case of a pendulum where the bob moves in a horizontal circle. The tension in the wire can be found using F = m * g * cos(beta), and the period of the pendulum can be calculated using T = 2 * π * √(L / g). These equations are valid for small amplitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A conical pendulum is a special case of a pendulum in which the pendulum bob moves in a horizontal circle of radius R, with the length of the pendulum wire being L. The angle beta that the wire makes with the vertical affects the tension, F, in the wire and the period, T, of the pendulum. To find the tension F in the wire, we can resolve the forces acting on the bob into components. The tension in the wire can be found using the equation F = m * g * cos(beta), where m is the mass of the bob and g is the acceleration due to gravity. To find the period T of the pendulum, we can use the equation T = 2 * π * √(L / g), where L is the length of the pendulum wire and g is the acceleration due to gravity. It is important to note that these equations assume small amplitudes (beta less than about 15 degrees) for accurate results.