Q17DQ

Question

You swing a ball on the end of a lightweight string in a horizontal circle at constant speed. Can the string ever be truly horizontal? If not, would it slope above the horizontal or below the horizontal? Why?

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified

Answer

The string cannot be horizontal and due to gravity, it would slope below the horizontal.

1Step 1: Significance of the tension

Tension force always acts in action-reaction pair and exists in a body by virtue of the elastic nature of that body.

2Step 2: Determination of the nature of the string

According to the question, it can be identified that there are mainly two forces acting on the string. The forces are the horizontal tension that moves the ball in a circle that is the horizontal and downward weight that helps the ball to accelerate in the downward direction. The tension force always acts in action-reaction pair and hence, is balanced. The gravitational pull of the earth still remains unbalanced and thus will attract the ball towards the earth. So, the string will dip downward.

Q16DQ

Q19DQ

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