A mass hangs on the end of a massless rope. The pendulum is held horizontal and released from rest. When the mass reaches the bottom of its path it is moving at a speed v = 2.3 m/s and the tension in the rope is T = 22.4 N.

1. What is the mass?
2. If the maximum mass that can be used before the rope breaks is mmax = 1.72 kg, what is the maximum tension the rope can withstand? (Assuming that the mass is still released from the horizontal.)

3 answers

1.What is the mass
find the length of the rope
v^2/(2*g)=L
find the mass
(L*T)/(v^2+L*g)=m
Second equation is correct,
First equation is (1/2mv^2)/mg => (1/2v^2)/g
(1/2v^2)/g is the same as v^2/(2g) so both work!