Q19DQ - University Physics with Modern Physics

Question

A professor swings a rubber stopper in a horizontal circle on the end of a string in front of his class. He tells Caroline, in the front row, that he is going to let the string go when the stopper is directly in front of her face. Should Caroline worry?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Caroline should not worry as the stopper will move on a curved path instead of the straight path.

Step 1: Significance of the velocity

Velocity is described as the rate of the change of the displacement of a particular object with respect to time.

Step 2: Explanation of the fact if Caroline should worry or not

The stopper’s velocity is in the tangential direction, and when it is released  it will undergo projectile motion and will move on the curved path. Thus, the stopper will go either on the right or left of Caroline, depending on which direction the stopper will spin.

 

Thus, Caroline should not worry.