Question

To form a pendulum, a0.092 kgball is attached to one end of a rod of length 0.62 mand negligible mass, and the other end of the rod is mounted on a pivot. The rod is rotated until it is straight up, and then it is released from rest so that it swings down around the pivot. When the ball reaches its lowest point, what are (a) its speed and (b) the tension in the rod? Next, the rod is rotated until it is horizontal, and then it is again released from rest. (c) At what angle from the vertical does the tension in the rod equal the weight of the ball? (d) If the mass of the ball is increased, does the answer to (c) increase, decrease, or remain the same?

Short answer

1. The value of the speed is ${\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{a}}=4.9\frac{\mathrm{m}}{\mathrm{s}}$.
2. The value of the tension is T = 4.5 N
3. The angle from the vertical is $\theta =71°$
4. If the mass of the ball increases, the angle $\theta$will remain the same.

Step-by-step solution

Given

1. Mass of the ball m = 0.092 kg
2. Length of the rod L = 0.62 m

To understand the concept

If the system is isolated, then only conservative forces will act on it. For such a system, sum of kinetic and potential energy for any state of a system = Sum of kinetic and potential energy for any other state of the system.

Formula:

$$\begin{gathered} K_a+U_a=K_b+U_b \\ K=\frac{1}{2}m{v}^2 \\ U=mgh \end{gathered}$$

(a) Calculate the ball’s speed when the ball reaches its lowest point

In the first situation, the rod is rotated such as it is straight up and then released. The situation is shown in Figure a.

Figure a

This is the isolated system with conservative forces. From Figure a, let A be the lowest point and B be the height point; then

$$\begin{gathered} K_a+U_a=K_b+U_b \\ {U}_a=0\mathrm{as}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{is}\mathrm{the}\mathrm{lowest}\mathrm{point},\mathrm{h}=0 \\ {\mathrm{K}}_{\mathrm{b}}=0\mathrm{as}\mathrm{B}\mathrm{is}\mathrm{the}\mathrm{lowest}\mathrm{point},{\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{b}}=0 \\ {\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{b}}=\mathrm{mgh} \end{gathered}$$

From the figure, for point B, h =2 L. Hence,

$\frac{1}{2}m{v}_a^2=mg2L$

Rearranging the equation,

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{a}}=\sqrt{2\mathrm{g}2\mathrm{L}} \\ \Rightarrow {\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{a}}=\sqrt{\left(2\times 9.8\times 2\times 0.62\right)} \\ \Rightarrow {\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{a}}\sqrt{24.304} \\ \Rightarrow {\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{a}}=4.9\frac{\mathrm{m}}{\mathrm{s}} \end{gathered}$$ (i)

(b) Calculate the tension in the rod when the ball reaches its lowest point

Applying Newton’s second law at point A, in Figure a,

$$\begin{gathered} ma=T-mg \\ \Rightarrow m\frac{v_a^2}{r}=T-mg \end{gathered}$$

$\Rightarrow \mathrm{T}=\mathrm{m}\left[\frac{{\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{a}}^2}{\mathrm{r}}+\mathrm{g}\right]$

Using given values and equation (i),

$$\begin{gathered} T=0.092\times \left[\frac{24.304}{0.62}+9.8\right] \\ \Rightarrow T=4.56\mathrm{N} \end{gathered}$$

(c) Calculate at what angle from the vertical does the tension in the rod equal the weight of the ball 

In the first situation, the rod is rotated such as it is horizontal and then released. The situation is shown in Figure b. We need to find the angle at which the tension in the rod is equal to the mass of the ball, i.e.,

T = mg

(ii)

Figure b

Now consider the coordinate system as shown in fig (b), and find the components of weight.

Applying Newton’s second law along x axis, $F_{net}=maanda=\frac{v^2}{r}$

$m\frac{v_a^2}{L}=T-mg\cos \theta$

Using equation (ii),

$m\frac{v_a^2}{L}=mg-mg\cos \theta$

Cancelling m and rearranging the equation,

$v_a^2=gL(1-\cos \theta )$

(iii)

Applying law of conservation of energy at point A and B in fig. b,

role="math" localid="1661404579656" $$\begin{gathered} K_a+U_a=K_b+U_b\left(\mathrm{iv}\right) \\ {K}_b=0\mathrm{as}Bisthehighestpoint \\ {\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{b}}=0\left(\mathrm{v}\right) \\ {\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{b}}=\mathrm{mgh} \\ =\mathrm{mgL} \end{gathered}$$

(vi)

$\Rightarrow U_b=mgh$

To find h, in figure b,

$$\begin{gathered} \cos \theta =\frac{d}{L} \\ h=L-d \end{gathered}$$

Using value of d,

$h=L-L\cos \theta =L\left(1-\cos \theta \right)$

Using this in $U_b$,

$$\begin{gathered} U_b=mgh \\ \Rightarrow U_b=mgL\left(1-\cos \theta \right) \end{gathered}$$

vii)

Using equation (v), (vi), (vii) in equation (iv),

$\frac{1}{2}m{v}_a^2+mgL\left(1-\cos \theta \right)=mgL$

Cancelling m and multiplying both the sides by 2 to,

$v_a^2+2gL\left(1-\cos \theta \right)=2gL$

(viii)

Using equation (iii),

$gL\left(1-\cos \theta \right)+2gL\left(1-\cos \theta \right)+2gL$

Cancelling g L from both sides and rearranging the equation,

$$\begin{gathered} \cos \theta =\frac{1}{3} \\ \Rightarrow \theta ={\cos }^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{3}\right) \\ \Rightarrow \theta =71° \end{gathered}$$

Explain if the answer to (c) increases, decreases, or remains the same if the mass of the ball is increased

(d)

As in equation 8, mass m gets cancelled from both sides, it becomes independent of mass m. Hence, if the mass of the ball increased, the value $\theta =71°$will remain constant.