Question

A monkey (mass m) is swinging on a vine of length L while carrying a bunch of bananas (a large bunch, mass m/2). His swinging motion has period T and reaches maximum height during the swing h (measured from the bottom of his arc of motion). He accidentally lets go of his bananas when he is at a height of h/2. What happens to the amplitude and period of his oscillation as a result? Explain.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

The period of oscillation will remain unchanged because the period of oscillation of a pendulum does not depend upon the mass of the bob  . Here monkey along with bunch of banana represents bob .

When the monkey and banana were at height h /2 , they have potential energy as well as kinetic energy . banana is separated from the system . It carried its total energy along with it . But the energy of monkey remained intact with it . So it will keep on moving as usual . So it will attain the same maximum height as before .

Hence the amplitude of oscillation too will remain unchanged .