Consider first the torque due to gravity. Which of the following statements most accurately describes the effect of gravity on the rod?
A) Under the action of gravity alone the rod would move to a horizontal position. But for small deflections from the vertical the torque due to gravity is sufficiently small to be ignored.
B) Under the action of gravity alone the rod would move to a vertical position. But for small deflections from the vertical the restoring force due to gravity is sufficiently small to be ignored.
C) There is no torque due to gravity on the rod.