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There are 3 Points at which the pendulum significantly changes direction.

First it starts off pulled back before it is released it has a high potential energy because it is higher from the source of gravitation (generally the earth) but has no kinetic energy because it is not moving. Once released the pendulum loses potential energy and it swings downward and gains kinetic energy as it speed up. At the bottom of its swing it is going as fast as it will and has the highest kinetic energy and the lowest potential energy, then as it rises it loses the kinetic energy because it has to fight against gravity and loses kinetic energy and gains potential energy as it rises. And it repeats itself. One important thing to note is this is a great application of the law of conservation of energy because as it loses potential energy it gains the same energy in kinetic energy and vice versa (not counting the effects of wind resistance and friction however minor).

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12y ago
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12y ago

When the pendulum stops at the top of each swing, it is at it's highest point above the ground, meaning it's gravitational potential energy is at a maximum and kinetic energy is non existent. When the pendulum swings past the bottom most point of it's path, it is at it's lowest point, meaning gravitational potential energy is at a minimum, and kinetic energy is at a maximum. As the pendulum rises, PE increases, and KE decreases. As it falls, KE increases, and PE decreases.

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11y ago

At the greatest height of its swing, PE is at maximum and KE is zero. When the pendulum swings back, its PE decreases and its KE increases. When the pendulum is verticle, it has maxium KE and zero PE. As the pendulum continues to swing, its KE decreases and its PE increases until it reaches the greatest height on the other side of its swing. At that point PE is at maximum and KE is zero.

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11y ago

PE = mgh, where m is the mass in kg, g is acceleration due to gravity, 9.8m/s2, and h is the greatest vertical height of the pendulum bob from the bottom of its swing to the top of its swing, in meters.

KE = 1/2mv2, where m is mass in kg and v is velocity.

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13y ago

it is demonstrated by the movement of how the energy of the pendulum has not created or destroyed it's energy

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12y ago

potential energy is whay makes the pendulum swing back and forth

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12y ago

The two energies turn in to static energy.

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Q: What does a pendulum have to do with potential and kinetic energy?
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As a pendulum swings energy is continuosly transformed between kinetic energy and?

When the pendulum swings up, it gains potential energy, but loses kinetic energy. Therefore when it swing down, it gains kinetic energy, but loses potential energy.


When you were holding the pendulum at the far end what kind of energy does it possess?

At this point, at the top of the swing, the pendulum has potential energy. As it drops it loses potential and gains kinetic energy. At the fastest point, as the pendulum reached the bottom of the swing, it has kinetic energy. It then loses kinetic energy and gains potential energy as it swings up to the other side.


What energy occur as a pendulum swings?

There is Mechanical Energy. This Mechanical Energy equals Potential + Kinetic Energies. At the maximum heigh and with the pendulum set still there is the maximum Potential Energy (so Kinetic equals 0, and Potential Energy equals Mechanical Energy). When we release the pendulum this Potential Energy transforms into Kinetic Energy which will be maximum and equal to the Mechanical Energy when the 'rope' or 'string' that holds the pendulum is in the same direction as the acceleration, or force, in this case gravity. Then, and if there is no friction (e.g. air) the pendulum will reach the same maximum heigh that it had in X0 and the Kinetic Energy will transform into Potential, reinitiating the process but in the opposite direction. Hope i helped and sorry for my english. :)


What energy does pendulum have?

When the pendulum is at its highest point or amplitude, it has the highest potential energy. When it passes by its point of equilibriu, it has the highest kinetic energy.


Where is the potential energy in a pendulum?

A pendulum swings back and forth with a period based on its length. When it is pointing directly down, moving horizontally with maximum speed, there is no potential energy; all the energy is kinetic. When it is maximally away from this position it has stopped and so has no kinetic energy; all the energy is potential. Thus at any one time there is the same amount of energy in a swinging pendulum but depending on where it is in its arc of motion there will be different amounts of kinetic and potential energy.

Related questions

How does a pendulum work?

greetings.a pendulum has both kinetic and potential energy at one point.when the pendulum is at its highest point it has potential energy.it has kinetic energy when the ball of the pendulum is right in the middle.get it?


Describe the energy conversions that take place in the pendulum?

In a pendulum, the energy transformations involve potential energy being converted to kinetic energy as the pendulum swings back and forth. At the highest point of the swing, the pendulum has maximum potential energy, which is then converted to maximum kinetic energy at the lowest point of the swing. This process continues as the pendulum oscillates, with energy being continually converted between potential and kinetic forms.


When pendulum stops has the kinetic energy changed to potential energy?

As the pendulum stops swinging, its maximum kinetic energy (the initial energy at the beginning of the swing) decreases, and its potential energy increases. Once the pendulum stops, it will have zero kinetic energy and maximum potential energy.


As a pendulum swings energy is continuosly transformed between kinetic energy and?

When the pendulum swings up, it gains potential energy, but loses kinetic energy. Therefore when it swing down, it gains kinetic energy, but loses potential energy.


When a pendulum is at the center position what is true of the kinetic and potential energy?

If a pendulum is at its center position, then there are two possibilities: 1). It may be swinging. Then its kinetic energy is maximum and its potential energy is zero. 2). It may be stopped altogether. Then it has no energy at all.


What happens to the gravitational potential energy as the pendulum starts back up towards its highest point?

The pendulum's momentum or kinetic energy is converted to gravitational potential energy until all of the kinetic energy is converted. The pendulum stops.


When you were holding the pendulum at the far end what kind of energy does it possess?

At this point, at the top of the swing, the pendulum has potential energy. As it drops it loses potential and gains kinetic energy. At the fastest point, as the pendulum reached the bottom of the swing, it has kinetic energy. It then loses kinetic energy and gains potential energy as it swings up to the other side.


A certain pendulum has a potential energy of 20 J when it is at the top of its swing. What is the kinetic energy?

If at the top of the swing the pendulum is STOPPED then it has zero kinetic energy.


How is energy transferred during a pendulum swing?

A swinging pendulum has potential energy at each end of it's travel (when it stops momentarily) This energy is converted to kinetic energy as it swings down and back to potential energy as it swings up the other way.


A pendulum is designed to transfer potential gravitational energy into what?

When the bob of the pendulum while moving stops at one, its Kinetic energy changes completely into potential energy and when it starts its motion again, the potential energy changes to the kinetic energy


What energy occur as a pendulum swings?

There is Mechanical Energy. This Mechanical Energy equals Potential + Kinetic Energies. At the maximum heigh and with the pendulum set still there is the maximum Potential Energy (so Kinetic equals 0, and Potential Energy equals Mechanical Energy). When we release the pendulum this Potential Energy transforms into Kinetic Energy which will be maximum and equal to the Mechanical Energy when the 'rope' or 'string' that holds the pendulum is in the same direction as the acceleration, or force, in this case gravity. Then, and if there is no friction (e.g. air) the pendulum will reach the same maximum heigh that it had in X0 and the Kinetic Energy will transform into Potential, reinitiating the process but in the opposite direction. Hope i helped and sorry for my english. :)


Where does the bob have the highest potential energy?

-- If you're talking about a pendulum, then the potential energy is highest and kinetic energy is zero at the ends of the swing, and potential energy is lowest and kinetic energy is highest in the middle of the swing. -- If you're not talking about a pendulum, then the preceding may be completely wrong.