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Sun 11 Sep, 2005 08:28 pm
Consider a pendulum swinging back and forth on a string. Use
a motion diagram analysis and a written explanation to
answer the following questions.
a. At the lowest point in the motion, is the velocity zero or
nonzero? Is the acceleration zero or nonzero? If these vectors
aren't zero, which way do they point?
b. At the end of its arc, when the pendulum is at the highest
point on the right or left side, is the velocity zero or
nonzero? Is the acceleration zero or nonzero? If these vectors
aren't zero, which way do they point?
I've seen so many problems like this, but I just don't kow how to do it!
a) At its lowest point, the weight is hanging from the string. This is the point of maximum velocity. If it is swinging from left to right, the velocity vector is pointing right.
b) At the end of its arc, velocity is zero. Acceleration is Force/Mass. Where is the force coming from? Gravity. There is a counter force on the string holding the bob. The resultant force is perpendicular to the string.