Question

Another bowling ball is suspended from the ceiling on a rope. You decide to start it swinging by pulling back on it so that it is raised 0.45 meters higher than it was to start. You let it swing:

How fast is the bowling ball moving at the bottom of its swing?
a) It is not moving
b) Same speed as at the top
c) Faster than at the top
d) Slower than at the top

How fast is the bowling ball going at the top of its swing?
a) It is not moving
b) Same speed as at the bottom
c) Faster than at the bottom
d) Slower than at the bottom

Answer 1

The bowling ball swings faster at the bottom of its swing as potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, and it is momentarily at rest at the top of the swing.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a bowling ball is suspended from a rope and starts swinging, its speed at different points of the swing can be determined by analyzing the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy and vice versa. Initially, when pulled back, the ball has gravitational potential energy due to its height. As it is released and swings down, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, making it move faster. At the bottom of the swing, the ball's velocity is at its maximum since all the potential energy has been converted into kinetic energy. Hence, the answer to how fast the bowling ball is moving at the bottom of its swing is (c) Faster than at the top. At the top of its swing, the ball has the least kinetic energy and it is momentarily at rest before changing direction, making it the point of minimum velocity; therefore, the answer to how fast it is going at the top is (a) It is not moving.