Question

A bob of mass 0.1 kg hung from the ceiling of a room by a string 2 m long is set into oscillation. The speed of the bob at its mean position is 1 ms^-1. What is the trajectory of the bob if the string is cut when the bob is

1. at one of its extreme positions.

2. at its mean position.

Answer 1

1. At the extreme position, the speed of the bob is zero. If the string is cut, it will fall vertically down wards.

2. At the mean position, the bob has a horizontal velocity. If the string is cut, it will fall along a parabolic path.