High School Physics : Understanding Pendulums
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Understanding Pendulums
A pendulum is dropped from rest at 
Greater than
Less than
If no outside forces act upon the pendulum, it will continue to oscillate back to the original height of 
The proof of this is in the law of conservation of energy. At the top, the pendulum has all potential energy, which is given by the formula 
Mathematically, the initial and final potential energies are equal.
Notice the masses and gravity can cancel out on both sides, as neither of these will change. This leaves us with only height.
Example Question #1 : Harmonic Motion
A mass on a string is released and swings freely. Which of the following best explains the energy of the pendulum when the string is perpendicular to the ground?
The mass has mostly potential energy, but there is some kinetic energy
The mass has mostly kinetic energy, but there is some potential energy
The mass has maximum potential energy
The mass has maximum kinetic energy
The mass has equal amounts of kinetic and potential energy
The mass has maximum kinetic energy
Conservation of energy dictates that the total mechanical energy will remain constant. Initially, the mass will not be moving and will be at its highest height. When released, it will begin to travel downward (lose potential energy) and gain velocity (gain kinetic energy). When the mass reaches the bottommost point in the swing, the potential energy will be at a minimum and the kinetic energy will be at a maximum. This point corresponds to the string being perpendicular to the ground.
Example Question #3 : Understanding Pendulums
A man swings a bucket back and forth at the end of a rope, creating a pendulum. What factor could be used to increase the period of the pendulum?
Use a stronger rope
Remove water from the bucket
Increase the length of the rope
Move the pendulum to a lower altitude
Add water to the bucket
Increase the length of the rope
The equation for the period of a pendulum is:
Notice that the material of the pendulum and the mass at the end do not enter into the equation at all. The only things that are capable of affecting the period are are the length of the pendulum and the acceleration due to gravity.
While changing the altitude of the pendulum will change the period, it will do it only slightly unless you take it miles above the earth's crust. Furthermore, decreasing the altitude of the pendulum will increase the force due to gravity, which will resulut in a decreased period. The best answer is to increase the length of the rope. This will increase the period of the pendulum.
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