Question

A stone is tied to the middle of a string and suspended from one end. Here S is the stone and 0 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. can't say

Answer 1

The correct option is A below the stone

When you give a quick downward jerk to the bottom string, you exceed the breaking tension in the bottom string in such a short time that, because of the inertia of the stone, you 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.

So, Option A is correct.