a pendulum swings back and forth.discuss the energy possessed by the pendulum at each stage of it's swing?

Robert01

7 years ago

Imagine a pendulum Bob moving from left to right, to and fro, about a fixed position. There are five possible stages.

The energy possessed when it gets to the ends of its left and right swings is that the kinetic energy is negligible or zero while the potential energy is maximum. This is valid for the 1st and 5th stages.

At the 2nd and 4th stage, the kinetic energy of the bob is equal to its potential energy.

At the 3rd stage, the kinetic energy is maximum while the potential energy is zero.

Hykay

7 years ago

simple pendulum is an example of simple harmonic motion. It contiunes swinging back and forth. During this swinging, there is constant exchange between potential and kinetic energy. When a pendulum is the farthest up in its swing, it is at its maximum height which gives it maximum potential energy. At this same point in the swing, the pendulum is motionless for a fraction of a second because it is changing direction. Since the speed is zero, the kinetic energy is also zero. After the pendulum changes direction and begins swinging again, it is losing height, but gaining speed. This also means that the pendulum is losing potential energy, but gaining kinetic energy. When the pendulum reaches the very bottom of the swing, it is at its lowest point and greatest speed. This means that the pendulum has zero potential energy (with respect to its rest position) and maximum kinetic energy. This pattern continues for the rest of the swings. Ignoring air resistance, the total energy of the system (G.P.E. + K.E) should be the same at every position in the swing.