Final answer:
Maximum potential energy for a pendulum occurs at the highest point of the swing, where its kinetic energy is zero. Conversely, maximum kinetic energy is at the lowest point of the swing, where potential energy is zero, following the conservation of mechanical energy principle.
Step-by-step explanation:
For pendulums, the maximum potential energy (PE) occurs at the highest point in the swing, where the pendulum is momentarily at rest before swinging back. This is because all the energy of the pendulum is stored as gravitational potential energy due to its height above the lowest point. At this highest point, the kinetic energy (KE) is zero. In contrast, the maximum kinetic energy occurs at the lowest point in the swing, where the pendulum has its maximum speed. Here, all the potential energy has been converted into kinetic energy, while the potential energy is zero, as described by the conservation of mechanical energy.