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Describe the motion of a pendulum in terms of kinetic and potential energy. As the pendulum moves from its greatest to lowest height and back up again, how does its energy change? When is each type of energy the greatest and the least? What is true about the total mechanical energy of the pendulum?

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Final answer:

The motion of a pendulum involves changes in potential and kinetic energy. The potential energy is greatest at the highest point and least at the lowest point, while the kinetic energy is greatest at the lowest point and least at the highest point. The total mechanical energy of the pendulum remains constant throughout its motion.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a pendulum moves from its greatest to lowest height and back up again, its potential energy and kinetic energy change. At the highest point of the pendulum swing, the potential energy is at its maximum, while the kinetic energy is at its minimum. As the pendulum moves towards the lowest point, the potential energy decreases and the kinetic energy increases. At the lowest point, the potential energy is at its minimum, while the kinetic energy is at its maximum. As the pendulum moves back up towards the highest point, the potential energy increases and the kinetic energy decreases.

The total mechanical energy of the pendulum remains constant throughout its motion, as long as there are no external forces (like friction) acting on it. This is because the pendulum oscillates between potential energy and kinetic energy, but the total energy remains the same due to the conservation of mechanical energy.

User IluSioN
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When you first pull back on the pendulum, and when you pull it back really high the Potential Energy is high and the Kinetic Energy is low, But when up let go, and it gets right around the middle, that's when the Potential energy transfers to Kinetic, at that point the kinetic Energy is high and the potential Energy is low. But when it comes back up at the end. The same thing will happen, the Potential Energy is high, and the Kinetic Energy is low. Through all of that the Mechanical Energy stays the same.

I hope this helps. :)
User Riddhi
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