Published by:
CGP EDU Academic Team
Published on: September 12, 2026
A plumb-line is set up on a rotating disk and makes an angle of
with the vertical, as in Fig. The distance r from the point of suspension to the axis of rotation is known, and so is the length
of the thread. Find the angular velocity of rotation.

Text Solution
Verified by ExpertsThe correct answer is:
A
Step 1: Analyze the forces acting on the bob of the plumb line. The gravitational force acts downwards with magnitude mg and the tension in the thread acts along the thread.
Step 2: The bob makes an angle \( \alpha \) with the vertical. Therefore, the components of the forces can be described as:
- The vertical component of tension: \( T \cos(\alpha) = mg \)
- The horizontal component of tension providing centripetal force: \( T \sin(\alpha) = \frac{mv^2}{r} \)
Here, \( v \) is the tangential speed and \( r \) is the distance from the axis of rotation to the point of suspension.
Step 3: Substitute \( T \) from the first equation into the second equation:
From \( T = \frac{mg}{\cos(\alpha)} \), substitute into the horizontal force equation:
\( \frac{mg \sin(\alpha)}{\cos(\alpha)} = \frac{mv^2}{r} \)
Step 4: Simplify the equation:
\( g \tan(\alpha) = \frac{v^2}{r} \)
This leads to: \( v^2 = g r \tan(\alpha) \)
Step 5: The relation between linear velocity \( v \) and angular velocity \( \omega \) is \( v = r \omega \). Therefore, substituting this into the equation gives:
\( (r \omega)^2 = gr \tan(\alpha) \)
Step 6: Rearranging gives: \( \omega^2 = \frac{g \tan(\alpha)}{r} \)
Step 7: Taking the square root to find angular velocity: \( \omega = \sqrt{\frac{g \tan(\alpha)}{r}} \)
Hence, the angular velocity of rotation is \( \sqrt{\frac{g \tan(\alpha)}{r}} \).
Therefore, A.
Step 2: The bob makes an angle \( \alpha \) with the vertical. Therefore, the components of the forces can be described as:
- The vertical component of tension: \( T \cos(\alpha) = mg \)
- The horizontal component of tension providing centripetal force: \( T \sin(\alpha) = \frac{mv^2}{r} \)
Here, \( v \) is the tangential speed and \( r \) is the distance from the axis of rotation to the point of suspension.
Step 3: Substitute \( T \) from the first equation into the second equation:
From \( T = \frac{mg}{\cos(\alpha)} \), substitute into the horizontal force equation:
\( \frac{mg \sin(\alpha)}{\cos(\alpha)} = \frac{mv^2}{r} \)
Step 4: Simplify the equation:
\( g \tan(\alpha) = \frac{v^2}{r} \)
This leads to: \( v^2 = g r \tan(\alpha) \)
Step 5: The relation between linear velocity \( v \) and angular velocity \( \omega \) is \( v = r \omega \). Therefore, substituting this into the equation gives:
\( (r \omega)^2 = gr \tan(\alpha) \)
Step 6: Rearranging gives: \( \omega^2 = \frac{g \tan(\alpha)}{r} \)
Step 7: Taking the square root to find angular velocity: \( \omega = \sqrt{\frac{g \tan(\alpha)}{r}} \)
Hence, the angular velocity of rotation is \( \sqrt{\frac{g \tan(\alpha)}{r}} \).
Therefore, A.
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