A 0.20 kg mass is whirled round in a vertical circle on the end of a light string of length 0.90 m. At the top point of the circle the speed of the mass is 8.2 m/s. What is the tension in the string at this point?

A diagram would be very beneficial for this problem. We can draw a free body force diagram of the mass. At the top of the circle the two forces acting on it are its weight and tension from the string. Both are acting vertically downwards.
This problem is an example of circular motion, so the equation to use will be:
F = (mv2) / r
where F is the centripetal force (acting towards the centre of the circle), m is mass, v is velocity and r is radius
Therefore we can calculate what the centripetal force will be:
F = (0.2
8.22) / 0.9
F = 14.94222...N
As we said earlier, there are two forces acting on the mass towards the centre of the circle: its weight and the tension. We can calculate the weight from the body's mass using W = mg
W = 0.2
9.81
Then F = weight + tension
tension = F - weight
tension = 14.942 - 0.2*9.81
tension = 13.0N

TC
Answered by Thomas C. Physics tutor

50577 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A gold leaf electroscope with a zinc plate top is charged by briefly connecting it to the negative electrode of a high-voltage supply. Explain how the gold leaf will appear and how the leaf can be caused to drop again.


An electron moving at 1000 m/s annihilates with a stationary positron. What is the frequency of the single photon produced?


a ball is dropped from rest off a cliff of height 50m, determine the final velocity of the ball assuming no air resistance.


During take-off from earth, an astronaut of mass 76kg has an area of contact with his seat of 0.095m^2. Calculate the average pressure on the seat when the upward acceleration of the rocket is 47ms^-2


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning