If a pendulum bob has a mass of 25 kg and is set in motion from a point .2m from the lowest point swing, what is the KE at the lowest point in the pendulums motion?
To find the kinetic energy (KE) at the lowest point of the pendulum's motion, we need to consider the total mechanical energy of the pendulum. The total mechanical energy of the pendulum is the sum of its potential energy (PE) and kinetic energy (KE). At the lowest point, the pendulum reaches its maximum kinetic energy.
To calculate the potential energy at the highest point, we need to know the height. However, from the given information, we can assume that the pendulum is at its highest point when it is 0.2 meters away from the lowest point. Therefore, we can calculate the potential energy at the highest point using the equation for gravitational potential energy:
PE = mgh
Where:
m = mass of the pendulum bob = 25 kg
g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s²
h = height = 0.2 m
PE = (25 kg) * (9.8 m/s²) * (0.2 m)
PE = 49 J
Since the total mechanical energy is conserved, the potential energy at the highest point is equal to the kinetic energy at the lowest point. Hence, the kinetic energy at the lowest point is also 49 J.