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A pendulum oscillates between two stationary points at the ends of its swing, with maximum speed at the center of the swing. So the kinetic energy is highest at the swing center where it is travelling fastest, and drops to zero at the stationary end points. The potential energy does the opposite, being a maximum at the ends and minimum in the center.

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15y ago
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14y ago

At the highest point of the pendulum (on either side), the head of the pendulum is at the state of highest potential energy (and minimum kinetic energy), this potential energy transforms into kinetic energy as the pendulum drops towards the middle. At its lowest point, the pendulum is at a state of highest kinetic energy (and minimum potential energy), as it swings back up from the bottom, kinetic energy transforms into potential energy as the pendulum gains height and slows down. At the top of this swing, the pendulum is again at a state of highest potential energy and lowest kinetic energy, and the cycle repeats as it swings down again.

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9y ago

The potential energy is easiest to calculate - it's directly proportional to the height. Assuming you assign a potential energy of zero to the lowest possible point, the potential energy will be half its maximum value when the pendulum bob is half the way up (half-way between the lowest and highest position). This refers ONLY to the vertical position. The other half of the system's energy, of course, will be kinetic energy at that moment; and kinetic energy and potential energy will be equal.

On the other hand, if you decide to call some other point "zero potential energy" (and the decision is really arbitrary), then the result will be different. For example, if you call the highest point which the pendulum bob can reach "zero potential energy", then at that point, the potential energy, the kinetic energy, and the total energy is zero; at any other point, the potential energy will be negative, and the kinetic energy will be positive (and of course, the total energy will also be zero).

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Q: Where the kinetic energy and potential energy becomes equal in simple pendulum?
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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?


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.


Describe the energy conversions that take place in the pendulum?

At the start of a swing the pendulum has lots of potential energy but no kinetic energy. As it moves downwards the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. In the upswing the kinetic energy is converted back into potential energy. Some of the energy is converted into heat by friction which is why the pendulum slows down.


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.