Conical Pendulum - Tetherball
Purpose
A ball on a string traces a conical pendulum path, providing a clear visual for discussing central forces and circular motion. Students analyze how the horizontal component of tension provides centripetal acceleration while the vertical component balances gravity.
Figure 1:
Ball at rest, string hanging vertically from the rod tip.
Figure 2:
Long exposure showing the conical pendulum in action — the string traces a cone as the ball orbits in a horizontal circle.
Figure 3:
Detail of the hose clamp and rotating ring at the rod tip. The ring spins freely on the clamp, preventing the string from wrapping around the rod.
Demo Apparatus
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