A ring of mass M and radius R is suspended from a light inextensible thread, and two beads (each of mass m) are constrained to slide on it without friction, as shown in the figure below. The beads are released simultaneously from the top of the ring (at = 0) and they slide down opposite sides symmetrically. At the instant of release, the tension in the thread is initially positive. The ring may start to rise depending on the mass ratio M/m. Fixed support ← Thread m m Bead mass Ring mass = M Determine the critical angle theta at which the tension in the thread is equal to zero?
Rigid Body
A rigid body is an object which does not change its shape or undergo any significant deformation due to an external force or movement. Mathematically speaking, the distance between any two points inside the body doesn't change in any situation.
Rigid Body Dynamics
Rigid bodies are defined as inelastic shapes with negligible deformation, giving them an unchanging center of mass. It is also generally assumed that the mass of a rigid body is uniformly distributed. This property of rigid bodies comes in handy when we deal with concepts like momentum, angular momentum, force and torque. The study of these properties – viz., force, torque, momentum, and angular momentum – of a rigid body, is collectively known as rigid body dynamics (RBD).
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