Question

A pendulum has 592 J of potential energy at the highest point of its swing. How much kinetic energy will it have at the bottom of its swing?

Answer: ___________| Units:______

Answer 1

592 J

Step-by-step explanation:

When neglecting air resistance or frictions, the mechanical energy of an object in motion is conserved.

Mechanical energy is defined as the sum of potential energy (U) and kinetic energy (K):

`E=U+K`

At the highest point of its swing, the pendulum has only potential energy (because its motion has stopped), therefore its mechanical energy at the highest point is:

`E=U=592 J`

On the contrary, at the lowest point of its swing, the pendulum has only kinetic energy, because it is a its lowest height, so the potential energy is zero, and all the mechanical energy is just kinetic energy:

`E=K`

And since for the conservation of energy E must be conserved, we have

`K=E=592 J`

so, the kinetic energy at the bottom of its swing is 592 J.