Serway & Jewett — Conservation of Energy: Problem 40

A pendulum, comprising a light string of length \(L\) and a small sphere, swings in the vertical plane. The string hits a peg located a distance \(d\) below the point of suspension (Fig. P8.40). (a) Show that if the sphere is released from a height below that of the peg, it will return to this height after the string strikes the peg. (b) Show that if the pendulum is released from rest at the horizontal position (\(\theta = 90^{\circ}\)) and is to swing in a complete circle centered on the peg, the minimum value of \(d\) must be \(3L/5\).