A small particle is threaded on a smooth circular wire of radius $0.5$ m fixed in a vertical plane. It starts from rest at the highest point of the wire. Through what vertical height, in metres, has it fallen when it reaches the lowest point?

Model answer

Also accepted: 1 m, 1.0, 1m

Explanation

The highest and lowest points of a circle are a whole diameter apart, and the diameter is twice the radius:

2 \times 0.5 = 1\,\mathrm{m}

Derived from ZIMSEC Additional Mathematics Paper 2, Specimen Paper, Q3

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