A pendulum is held at the top of its swing. The person holding the pendulum lets go, and the pendulum is allowed to swing freely. Answer the following questions about the pendulum.%0D%0A%0D%0Aa. When the pendulum is held at the top of its swing, what type of energy does it have?%0D%0A%0D%0A(1 point)%0D%0AResponses%0D%0A%0D%0Aelectrical energy%0D%0Aelectrical energy%0D%0A%0D%0Akinetic energy%0D%0Akinetic energy%0D%0A%0D%0Apotential energy%0D%0Apotential energy%0D%0A%0D%0Amotion energy
When the pendulum is held at the top of its swing, it has potential energy.
When the pendulum is held at the top of its swing, it has potential energy.
When the pendulum is held at the top of its swing, it has potential energy. Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its position or condition. In this case, the pendulum has potential energy because it is at a height above its equilibrium position. The potential energy is due to the force of gravity acting on the mass of the pendulum, and it is stored in the system.
To understand why it is potential energy, you can think of it this way: when the pendulum is released from the top of its swing, it will start moving downwards under the force of gravity. As it moves downwards, it gains speed and its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy (the energy of motion). At the bottom of the swing, when the pendulum is moving fastest, it will have the most kinetic energy and the least potential energy. As it starts to move back up towards the top of the swing, its kinetic energy is gradually converted back into potential energy. At the top of the swing, it will have the most potential energy and the least kinetic energy.
So in summary, when the pendulum is held at the top of its swing, it has potential energy.