The bob of a simple pendulum has its maximum kinetic energy at the
A)top of its swing.
B)bottom of its swing.
C)midpoint between top and bottom.
D)at all points along its path of swing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The bob of a simple pendulum has its maximum kinetic energy at the bottom of its swing because at this point the bob has the maximum speed and therefore the maximum kinetic energy. At the top of the swing, the bob has zero speed and kinetic energy. At the midpoint between top and bottom, the bob has a combination of potential and kinetic energy, but neither is at its maximum value. Therefore, all points along the path of swing cannot have maximum kinetic energy.

The Bob of a Simple Pendulum Has Its Maximum Kinetic