String becomes slack timing

A question is this type if and only if it involves finding when an elastic string first becomes slack during motion, requiring analysis of when tension becomes zero.

5 questions · Challenging +1.2

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Edexcel M3 2014 June Q6
14 marks Challenging +1.2
6. A light elastic string, of natural length \(l\) and modulus of elasticity \(4 m g\), has one end attached to a fixed point \(A\). The other end is attached to a particle \(P\) of mass \(m\). The particle hangs freely at rest in equilibrium at the point \(E\). The distance of \(E\) below \(A\) is \(( l + e )\).
  1. Find \(e\) in terms of \(l\). At time \(t = 0\), the particle is projected vertically downwards from \(E\) with speed \(\sqrt { g l }\).
  2. Prove that, while the string is taut, \(P\) moves with simple harmonic motion.
  3. Find the amplitude of the simple harmonic motion.
  4. Find the time at which the string first goes slack.
Edexcel M3 Specimen Q7
15 marks Challenging +1.2
7. A particle \(P\) of mass \(m\) is attached to one end of a light elastic string of natural length \(a\) and modulus of elasticity 6 mg . The other end of the string is attached to a fixed point \(O\). When the particle hangs in equilibrium with the string vertical, the extension of the string is \(e\).
  1. Find \(e\).
    (2) The particle is now pulled down a vertical distance \(\frac { 1 } { 3 } a\) below its equilibrium position and released from rest. At time \(t\) after being released, during the time when the string remains taut, the extension of the string is \(e + x\). By forming a differential equation for the motion of \(P\) while the string remains taut,
  2. show that during this time \(P\) moves with simple harmonic motion of period \(2 \pi \sqrt { \frac { a } { 6 g } }\).
    (6)
  3. Show that, while the string remains taut, the greatest speed of \(P\) is \(\frac { 1 } { 3 } \sqrt { } ( 6 g a )\).
  4. Find \(t\) when the string becomes slack for the first time. \section*{END}
OCR M3 2008 January Q7
15 marks Challenging +1.2
7 A particle \(P\), of mass \(m \mathrm {~kg}\), is attached to one end of a light elastic string of natural length 3.2 m and modulus of elasticity \(4 m g \mathrm {~N}\). The other end of the string is attached to a fixed point \(A\). The particle is released from rest at a point 4.8 m vertically below \(A\). At time \(t \mathrm {~s}\) after \(P\) 's release \(P\) is ( \(4 + x ) \mathrm { m }\) below \(A\).
  1. Show that \(4 \frac { \mathrm {~d} ^ { 2 } x } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } = - 49 x\).
    \(P\) 's motion is simple harmonic.
  2. Write down the amplitude of \(P\) 's motion and show that the string becomes slack instantaneously at intervals of approximately 1.8 s . A particle \(Q\) is attached to one end of a light inextensible string of length \(L \mathrm {~m}\). The other end of the string is attached to a fixed point \(B\). The particle is released from rest with the string taut and inclined at a small angle with the downward vertical. At time \(t \mathrm {~s}\) after \(Q\) 's release \(B Q\) makes an angle of \(\theta\) radians with the downward vertical.
  3. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } \theta } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } \approx - \frac { g } { L } \theta\). The period of the simple harmonic motion to which \(Q\) 's motion approximates is the same as the period of \(P\) 's motion.
  4. Given that \(\theta = 0.08\) when \(t = 0\), find the speed of \(Q\) when \(t = 0.25\).
OCR MEI Further Mechanics Major 2021 November Q12
18 marks Challenging +1.2
12 A particle P of mass \(m\) is fixed to one end of a light elastic string of natural length \(l\) and modulus of elasticity 12 mg . The other end of the string is attached to a fixed point O . Particle P is held next to O and then released from rest.
  1. Show that P next comes instantaneously to rest when the length of the string is \(\frac { 3 } { 2 } l\). The string first becomes taut at time \(t = 0\). At time \(t \geqslant 0\), the length of the string is \(l + x\), where \(x\) is the extension in the string.
  2. Show that when the string is taut, \(x\) satisfies the differential equation $$\ddot { \mathrm { x } } + \omega ^ { 2 } \mathrm { x } = \mathrm { g } \text {, where } \omega ^ { 2 } = \frac { 12 \mathrm {~g} } { \mathrm { I } } \text {. }$$
  3. By using the substitution \(x = y + \frac { g } { \omega ^ { 2 } }\), solve the differential equation to show that the time when the string first becomes slack satisfies the equation $$\cos \omega \mathrm { t } - \sqrt { \mathrm { k } } \sin \omega \mathrm { t } = 1$$ where \(k\) is an integer to be determined.
Edexcel FM2 2022 June Q8
14 marks Challenging +1.2
  1. Throughout this question, use \(\boldsymbol { g } = \mathbf { 1 0 m ~ s } ^ { \mathbf { - 2 } }\)
A light elastic string has natural length 1.25 m and modulus of elasticity 25 N .
A particle \(P\) of mass 0.5 kg is attached to one end of the string. The other end of the string is attached to a fixed point \(A\). Particle \(P\) hangs freely in equilibrium with \(P\) vertically below \(A\) The particle is then pulled vertically down to a point \(B\) and released from rest.
  1. Show that, while the string is taut, \(P\) moves with simple harmonic motion with period \(\frac { \pi } { \sqrt { 10 } }\) seconds. The maximum kinetic energy of \(P\) during the subsequent motion is 2.5 J .
  2. Show that \(A B = 2 \mathrm {~m}\) The particle returns to \(B\) for the first time \(T\) seconds after it was released from rest at \(B\)
  3. Find the value of \(T\)