The diagram shows a simple pendulum. Neglecting friction, what happens to the total mechanical energy as the pendulum swings from position A to position B?
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Responses
It decreases.
It decreases.
It increases.
It increases.
It remains the same.
It remains the same.
It is not conserved.
The correct answer is: It remains the same.
To determine what happens to the total mechanical energy of the pendulum as it swings from position A to position B, we need to understand the concept of mechanical energy.
Mechanical energy of a system can be divided into two forms: potential energy and kinetic energy. In the case of a pendulum, potential energy is associated with its height, whereas kinetic energy is associated with its motion.
As the pendulum swings from position A to position B, its height decreases, resulting in a decrease in potential energy. Simultaneously, its velocity increases, leading to an increase in kinetic energy.
Since mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy, the change in one form of energy is offset by the change in the other. Therefore, as the pendulum swings from A to B, the total mechanical energy remains constant, meaning it remains the same.
Hence, the correct answer is: It remains the same.
The correct answer is:
It remains the same.
Explanation:
In a simple pendulum, neglecting friction, the total mechanical energy remains constant throughout the motion. The mechanical energy is the sum of the potential energy and the kinetic energy. As the pendulum swings from position A to position B, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and vice versa. However, the total amount of mechanical energy remains constant because energy is conserved.