Question

Explain how potential energy, kinetic energy, and total mechanical energy change form in a swinging pendulum, and how the speed changes as a pendulum swings back and forth without friction. Include the pendulum at its initial position, when it is moving downward, when it is at its lowest point, and when it is on the rise again.

Answer 1

In the case of a swinging pendulum Kinetic Energy is 0 at extreme position and maximum at mean position whereas PE is max at extreme postion and min at mean postion

PE is converted into its KE when it is at lowermost point(mean pos)
therefore maximum velocity of bob is at mean position