question_answer 21)

A stone tied to the end of string is whirled round in a circle in a horizontal plane. If the speed of the stone is increased beyond the maximum permissible value, and the string breaks suddenly, which of the following correctly describes the trajectory of the stone after the string breaks: (a) the stone jerks radially outwards, (b) the stone flies off tangentially from the instant the string breaks, (c) the stone flies off at an angle with the tangent whose magnitude depends on the speed of the particle ?  

Answer:

The alternative (b) is correct. When the string breaks, the stone flies off tangentially from the instant, the string breaks. This is because the velocity at any point is directed along the tangent at that point.