A mass of 1.1 kg is attached to two cords. The cords are each an angle 30 degrees above and below the horizontal, The mass circles around the vertical pole at a fixed speed of 15 m/s in a circle of radius 0.50 m. How do I calculate the magnitude of the net force and the tension on the upper cord? Please help

User Icon for bobpursley bobpursley answered
14 years ago

On the two cords, use symettry arguements: the vertical components will cancel (equal and opposide directions), so the tension in the upper cord= 1/2 net force/cosTheta

net force= mv^2/r
tension= 1/2 mv^2/(rcosTheta)