A stone of mass m tied to a string is being whirled in a vertical circ...

At any θ,
T - mgcosθ =

⇒ T = mg cosθ +

Since v is constant,
⇒ T will be minimum when cos θ is minimum.
⇒ θ = 180° corresponds to T
min.
A stone of mass m tied to a string is being whirled in a vertical circ...
Understanding Tension in Circular Motion
When a stone of mass m is tied to a string and whirled in a vertical circle, the tension in the string varies based on the position of the stone in the circle.
Key Factors Affecting Tension
- Centripetal Force Requirement: The stone requires a centripetal force to maintain its circular motion, which is provided by the tension in the string and the weight of the stone (mg).
- Position of the Stone: The tension is influenced by the gravitational force acting on the stone and the required centripetal force at different positions in the circle.
Minimum Tension at the Highest Position
- At the Highest Point:
- The forces acting on the stone are the tension (T) and the weight (mg), both acting downwards.
- The net force providing centripetal acceleration is (T + mg).
- Therefore, T + mg = mv^2, leading to T = mv^2 - mg.
- At this position, tension is at its minimum because it is supplemented by the weight of the stone.
- At the Lowest Point:
- The forces acting are the tension (T) acting upwards and the weight (mg) acting downwards.
- The net centripetal force is T - mg, which means T = mv^2 + mg.
- Here, tension is maximum as it has to overcome gravity as well as provide the necessary centripetal force.
Conclusion
- Horizontal Position: The tension is neither at its maximum nor minimum but is influenced by horizontal forces.
Thus, the correct answer is that the tension in the string is minimum at the highest position of the circular path.