Question

A stone is rotated along a circle in a horizontal plane by means of a horizontal string at some height above the ground. If the string is cut, the stone moves along:

• A. a radial straight line
• B. a tangential straight line
• C. a parabolic path in a horizontal plane
• D. a parabolic path in a vertical plane

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

a parabolic path in a vertical plane

As the string is cut, the tension force on the stone due to string becomes zero and the stone comes under the influence of gravity alone with an initial horizontal velocity hence it becomes a projectile and path of a projectile is parabolic in a vertical plane.