Question

A stone is tied to the middle of a string and suspended from one end as shown in the given figure. Here S is the stone and O is the point of suspension. If you give a sharp jerk at P, the string will break :

• A. below the stone
• B. at the point P itself
• C. from above the stone
• D. nothing can be decided

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

below the stone

When we give a quick downward jerk to the bottom string, we exceed the breaking tension in the bottom string in a very short time. Because of the inertia of the stone, we cannot accelerate it significantly, and the tension in the top string does not increase significantly above initial value. Therefore, the bottom string breaks, and the stone remains hanging from the top string.

Option A is correct.