Question

"A pendulum is pulled back from its equilibrium (center) position and then released. When the pendulum bob is halfway between the high point and the low point in its swing, is the total energy kinetic energy, potential energy, or both

Answer 1

Answer:

Option C, The total energy consists of half the original potential energy and half of the original potential energy converted to kinetic energy.

Explanation:

Complete question

A pendulum is pulled back from its equilibrium (center) position and then released. When the pendulum bob is halfway between the high point and the low point in its swing, is the total energy kinetic energy, potential energy, or both? Explain.

The total energy is kinetic energy only.

The total energy is potential energy only.

The total energy consists of half the original potential energy and half of the original potential energy converted to kinetic energy.

The total energy consists of one-fourth the original potential energy and three-fourths of the original potential energy converted to kinetic energy.

Solution

Total energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy and as a pendulum moves back and forth, there is continuous transformation of energy from one form to the other form. i.e from kinetic energy to potential energy and vice versa.  

When the pendulum is released from some position, the potential energy  in it start converting into kinetic energy with the increase in speed of motion of pendulum bob

Hence, option C is correct