Question

A child swings on a swing at the playground. The motion of the swing resembles the motion of a pendulum.

Answer 1

Answer:A pendulum illustrates the conservation of energy. The pendulum has the most potential energy - the energy of position or stored energy - when it is highest above the ground. It has the most kinetic energy - the energy of motion - when it is moving the fastest. As the pendulum swings downward, the potential energy changes to kinetic energy. As it swings upward, the kinetic energy changes to potential energy. The back-and-forth swinging of a pendulum is simple harmonic motion - motion that repeats periodically. The period of a pendulum is the time needed for one complete swing back and forth. This period is constant; it changes only if the length of the pendulum is changed. Ask student to time the periods of their pendulums when the pendulums swing through a longer distance (larger arc) or shorter distance (smaller arc). They will discover that the periods are the same. Have the students then change the mass by adding one or more washer to their pendulum. When the students time the periods, they discover that the period does not change if the mass is changed. Ask students to experiment to find what will change the period of the pendulum. Students will discover that the period will change if the pendulum’s length is changed.

Explanation: