An equilateral triangle ABC formed from a uniform wire has two small identical beads initially located at A. The triangle is set rotating about the vertical axis AO. Then the beads are released from rest simultaneously and allowed to slide down, one along AB the other along AC as shown in the figure.
Negleting frictional effects, the quantities that are conserved as the beads slide down are
Here gravitational forces acting on the beads do not produce any torque about the axis of rotation . So, the angular momentum is conserved, Further, the total energy i.e., the translational plus rotational kinetic energy and potential energy will be conserved. During downward motion, the gravitational potential energy will be converted into kinetic energy .also moment of inertia of the system gradually increases as the beads are sliding down the wires .
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