| Exam Board | CAIE |
| Module | FP2 (Further Pure Mathematics 2) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Session | June |
| Topic | Circular Motion 2 |
4 A particle \(P\) of mass \(m\) is suspended from a fixed point \(O\) by a light inextensible string of length \(a\). When hanging at rest under gravity, \(P\) is given a horizontal velocity of magnitude \(\sqrt { } ( 3 a g )\) and subsequently moves freely in a vertical circle. Show that the tension \(T\) in the string when \(O P\) makes an angle \(\theta\) with the downward vertical is given by
$$T = m g ( 1 + 3 \cos \theta )$$
When the string is horizontal, it comes into contact with a small smooth peg \(Q\) which is at the same horizontal level as \(O\) and at a distance \(x\) from \(O\), where \(x < a\). Given that \(P\) completes a vertical circle about \(Q\), find the least possible value of \(x\).