36.3k views
5 votes
A 400 g ball is tied to the end of a 2 m light cord is revolved in a horizontal plane, with the cord

making a 60° angle with the vertical. If the cord can withstand a maximum tension of 60 N, what
is the highest speed at which the ball can move?

User GregP
by
4.2k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

Too much information.

At 60° the cord tension must have a vertical component to support the weight and a horizontal component to provide the required centripetal force

tan60 = (mv²/R) / mg = v²/Rg

tan60 = v² / (Lsin60)g

v² = Lgsin60tan60

v² = 2(9.8)sin60tan60

v² = 29.4

v = 5.42 m/s

The ball MUST be moving at 5.42 m/s for the string to make a 60° angle with the vertical.

Let's see if the string is strong enough to do the task

Vertical force requirement

Fy = mg = 0.400(9.8) = 3.92 N

Horizontal force requirement

Fx = mv²/R = 0.400(29.4)/(2sin60) = 6.7896 N

total tension in the cord

F = √(3.92² + 6.7896²) = 7.84 N

so the cord is strong enough and has a safety factor of 60 / 7.84 = 7.7

But the question is asking what is the highest speed the ball can achieve without breaking.

For this we MUST ignore the 60° limit. The cord will be much closer to 90° from the vertical.

We already know the tension must supply 3.92 N vertically.

So the cord on the verge of breaking is at an angle of

θ = arccos(3.92/60) = 86.25°

and has a centripetal force of

Fx = 60sin86.25 = 59.8715 N

Fx = mv²/R

v² = RFx/m = (Lsinθ)Fx / m

v = √(2sin86.25)(59.8715) / 0.400)

v = 17.28342...

v = 17 m/s

User Johndodo
by
4.5k points