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Question of the Day: AP Physics 1

Consider the following system:

 

Spinning rod with masses at end

Two spherical masses, A and B, are attached to the end of a rigid rod with length l. The rod is attached to a fixed point, p, which is at the midpoint between the masses and is at a height, h, above the ground. The rod spins around the fixed point in a vertical circle that is traced in grey.  is the angle at which the rod makes with the horizontal at any given time ( in the figure).

This system is initially held so that the rod is in a horizontal position. At , the system is released and the rod is allowed to rotate. How much work is done by gravity by the time mass A reaches the lowest point of rotation?

Neglect air resistance. Assume the mass of the rod is zero.

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