Year: 1996
Paper: 3
Question Number: 11
Course: UFM Mechanics
Section: Simple Harmonic Motion
No solution available for this problem.
Difficulty Rating: 1700.0
Difficulty Comparisons: 0
Banger Rating: 1484.0
Banger Comparisons: 1
A smooth circular wire of radius $a$
is held fixed in a vertical plane with light elastic
strings of natural length $a$ and modulus $\lambda$ attached to the upper and
lower extremities, $A$ and $C$ respectively, of the vertical diameter.
The other ends of the two strings are attached to a small ring $B$ which
is free to slide on the wire. Show that, while both strings remain taut,
the equation for the motion of the ring is
$$2ma \ddot\theta=\lambda(\cos\theta-\sin\theta)-mg\sin\theta,$$
where $\theta$ is the angle $ \angle{CAB}$.
Initially the system is at rest in equilibrium with
$\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5}$. Deduce that $5\lambda=24mg$.
The ring is now displaced slightly. Show that, in the ensuing motion, it will
oscillate with period approximately
$$10\pi\sqrt{a\over91g}\,.$$