Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]PhysicsSome Mechanical Properties of Matter
A heavy mass is fastened to a thin wire and whirled in a vertical circle. The wire is most likely to break
Options
- Awhen the wire becomes horizontal
- Bwhen the mass reaches the highest point
- Cat an angle of ⁻¹(1/3) from the upward vertical
- Dwhen the mass reaches the lowest point
Correct answer
D. when the mass reaches the lowest point
Step-by-step solution
Let m be the mass, v be the velocity, and r be the radius of the vertical circle. At an angle from the lowest point, the tension T in the wire is given by the equation: T - mg = mv^2 r T = mv^2 r + mg By conservation of mechanical energy, the velocity v of the mass is maximum at the lowest point of the vertical circle. Also, the value of is maximum at the lowest point since = 0 and 0 = 1 . Therefore, both terms mv^2 r and mg are maximum at the lowest point, making the tension T maximum at this position. Since the w