A ball of mass M swings in a horizontal circle at the end of a string of radius R at a constant tangential speed v0. A student gradually pulls the string inward such that the radius of the circle decreases while keeping the tangential speed v0 of the ball constant, as shown above. Which of the following graphs best represents the acceleration a of the ball as a function of time t?

this would be about 43%

answer: the potential energy decreases from 379 j to 243 j

explanation:

for the law of conservation of energy, the total energy in a system must be conserved. the total energy of the system is given by the sum of kinetic (k) and potential (u) energy:

e = k + u

the total energy is e=675 j, and this does not change.

initially, the kinetic energy is k=296 j, so the potential energy is

at the end, the kinetic energy is k=432 j, so the potential energy is

so, we see that the potential energy has decreased from 379 j to 243 j.