Critical Point of Wire Breakage in Vertical Circle – Rankers Physics
Topic: Circular Motion
Subtopic: Vertical Circular Motion

Critical Point of Wire Breakage in Vertical Circle

A mass $m$ is attached to a thin wire and whirled in a vertical circle. The wire is most likely to break when:

(2019)

The mass is at the highest point
The wire is horizontal
The mass is at the lowest point
Inclined at an angle of $60^\circ$ from vertical

Solution:

Tension in the string/wire is maximum at the lowest point of the vertical circle ($T = mg + \frac{mv^2}{r}$), making it most likely to break there.

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