Draw the schematic diagram.

Consider the diagram.

Calculate the total potential energy.
V  Ve  Vg
...... (1)
V
Here, Ve is the elastic potential energy, and g is the gravitational energy.
Write the equation for the elastic potential energy.
1
Ve  kT  2
2
Here, kT is the torsional stiffness of the spring, and  is the angular deflection.
Write the equation for gravitational energy.
l
Vg  mg cos 
2
Here, m is the mass of the bar, g is the gravitational constant, and l is the length of the
bar.

1 l
kT  2 mg cos  V
Substitute 2 for Ve , and 2 for g in equation (1)
V  Ve  Vg
1 l
V kT 2  mg cos 
2 2 ...... (2)
Derivate the equation
dV
0
Equilibrium occurs for d .
dV l
 kT   mg sin 
d 2
Derivate the equation (2) twice
d 2V l
 kT  mg cos 
d 2
2

Determine the maximum value of l for which equilibrium at the position   0 is stable.
At   0
d 2V
0
d 2
l
kT  mg 0
2
2k
lmax  T
mg

2kT
l
mg
Hence, the maximum value of l is .