Question

A particle of mass m is attached to a light string of length l, the other end of which is fixed. Initially the string is kept horizontal and the particle is given an upward velocity v. The particle is just able to complete a circle.
(a) The string becomes slack when the particle reaches its highest point.
(b) The velocity of the particle become zero at the highest point.
(c) The kinetic energy of the ball in initial position was \[\frac{1}{2}m v^2 = mgl\]

(d) The particle again passes through the initial position. 

 

 

Answer 1

(a) The string becomes slack when the particle reaches its highest point.
(d) The particle again passes through the initial position.

The string becomes slack when the particle reaches its highest point. This is because at the highest point, the tension in the string is minimum. At this point, potential energy of the particle is maximum, while its kinetic energy is minimum. From the law of conservation of energy, we can see that the particle again passes through the initial position where its potential energy is minimum and its kinetic energy is maximum.