Question

A pendulum, like a bobblehead, moves back and forth through a resting position. At what point on its path is the net force acting on the pendulum zero?

Group of answer choices

When the pendulum is displaced as far to the left as it can be.

When the pendulum is displaced as far to the right as it can be.

When the pendulum is at its resting position.

Never…there is always a net force acting on a pendulum

Answer 1

The net force acting on a pendulum is zero at its equilibrium position, where the pendulum bob hangs straight down, and the tension in the string cancels out the weight's component along the string.

Step-by-step explanation:

The net force acting on a pendulum is related to its position and motion. When a pendulum is displaced from its equilibrium position, a restoring force acts to return it to that position. The equilibrium position is where the pendulum bob hangs directly downward and the angle with the vertical is zero.

According to physics principles and the provided Figure 16.3, the net force on the pendulum is zero at its equilibrium position. This is because the tension in the string cancels out the component of the pendulum bob's weight that acts along the string, leaving no net force to push the pendulum bob in either direction.

At the equilibrium position, the pendulum may still have momentum, which carries it past this point. However, at the precise moment it passes through the equilibrium position, the net force is indeed zero before the restoring force acts again to decelerate and reverse the bob's direction. Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'At what point on its path is the net force acting on the pendulum zero?' is when the pendulum is at its equilibrium position.