Question

A bob of mass $0.1kg$ hung from the ceiling of a room by a string $2m$ long is set into oscillation. The speed of the bob at its mean position is $1m{s}^{-1}$.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

(a) At the extreme position, the speed of the bob is zero. If the string is cut, it will fall vertically downwards.
(b) At the mean position, the bob has a horizontal velocity. If the string is cut, it will fall along a parabolic path.