A conical pendulum consists of a mass on the end of a string suspended from a point which moves in a circular path.
Let us consider a conical pendulum having the mass \(m\) revolving in a circle at a constant velocity \(v\) on a string of length \(l\) at an angle of \(\theta\).
There will be two forces acting on the mass, Tension and centripetal force.
The Tension exerted can be resolved into a horizontal component, \(T \sin (\theta)\) and vertical component
\(\operatorname{Tcos}(\theta)\)
The horizontal component of the tension experience centripetal force since the conical pendulum travels in a circular path of radius r with a constant velocity v
\(T \sin \theta=\frac{m v^{2}}{r}\)
We can rearrange the above equation as
\(T=\frac{m v^{2}}{r \sin \theta} \rightarrow 1\)
Since there is no acceleration in the vertical direction, the vertical component is equal and opposite to the weight of the mass so, the vertical component of tension is
\(T \cos \theta=m g\)
We can rearrange the above equation as
\(T=\frac{m g}{\cos \theta} \rightarrow 2\)
Equating 1 and 2
\(\frac{m v^{2}}{r \sin \theta}=\frac{m g}{\cos \theta}\)
\(v^{2}=\frac{g r \sin \theta}{\cos \theta}\)
\(v^{2}=g r \tan \theta \rightarrow 3\)
Given that, The radius of the circular path, \(r=0.4 m\)
The conical pendulum makes an angle \(\theta=45^{\circ}\)
The acceleration due to gravity, \(g=9.8 m / s\)
Substitute these given values in the equation 3
\(v^{2}=g r \tan \theta\)
\(v^{2}=9.8 \times 0.4 \times \tan 45^{\circ}\)
\(v^{2}=9.8 \times 0.4 \times 1\)
\(v^{2}=3.9=4 m / s\)
\(v=\sqrt{4} m / s\) \(=2 m / s\)