Question

A bob of mass 0.1 kg hung from the ceiling of a room by a string 2 m long is set into oscillation. The speed of the bob at its mean position is 1 m s-1. What is the trajectory of the bob if the string is cut when the bob is (a) at one of its extreme positions, (b) at its mean position

Answer 1

Given:The mass of the bobis 0.1 kg, the length of the string is 2 m and the speed of the bob at mean position is 1 m/s .

(a)

At the extreme position, the speed of the bob is zero. If the string is cut when the bob is at the extreme position, it will fall vertically downward.

(b)

At the mean position, the bob has maximum kinetic energy and velocity. If the string is cut when the bob is at the mean position, it will trace a projectile path i.e., parabolic having the horizontal component of velocity only.