A ball is swung in a vertical circle. At the highest point of the circle, what is the condition for the ball to just maintain its circular motion?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
A ball is swung in a vertical circle. At the highest point of the circle, what is the condition for the ball to just maintain its circular motion?
Weight must be greater than tension
Tension must be zero
Centripetal force must be zero
Weight must be less than tension
At the highest point, the centripetal force is provided by the weight of the ball. For just maintaining motion, tension can be zero.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: A ball is swung in a vertical circle. At the highest point of the circle, what is the condition for the ball to just maintain its circular motion?
Solution: At the highest point, the centripetal force is provided by the weight of the ball. For just maintaining motion, tension can be zero.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand that the ball is moving in a circular path.
Step 2: Identify the highest point of the circle where the ball is located.
Step 3: Recognize that for the ball to stay in circular motion, there must be a force acting towards the center of the circle.
Step 4: Know that at the highest point, the weight of the ball (gravity) acts downwards.
Step 5: Realize that this weight can provide the necessary centripetal force to keep the ball moving in a circle.
Step 6: Understand that if the ball is just maintaining its circular motion, the tension in the string (if there is one) can be zero.
Step 7: Conclude that the condition for the ball to just maintain its circular motion at the highest point is that the weight of the ball equals the required centripetal force.
