Magnitude of Acceleration

[BenZq]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Is there a difference between magnitude of acceleration and acceleration?
Specifically, for a pendulum in simple harmonic motion does the magnitude of acceleration decrease as it descends from its point of max PE, or is it only the PE that decreases?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

acceleration is a vector and thus has direction and magnitude

the acceleration INCREASES as it descends from its point of max PE.

 

[h9i9j9]

are you sure it increases? (hmm questioning the almightly one....lol)


At max potential energy, or max height, a higher degree of tension will go towards the middle. The max acceleration should be at the 90 degree angle and NOT the bottom.

edit: just realized this problem is very complicated and actually needs conservation of energy and lots of vector addition to complete. however, I think we can be reasonably certain that the greatest acceleration is NOT at the bottom.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

are you sure it increases? (hmm questioning the almightly one....lol)


At max potential energy, or max height, a higher degree of tension will go towards the middle. The max acceleration should be at the 90 degree angle and NOT the bottom.

edit: just realized this problem is very complicated and actually needs conservation of energy and lots of vector addition to complete. however, I think we can be reasonably certain that the greatest acceleration is NOT at the bottom.

no, acceleration doesn't increase at all, it totally decreases. i was delirious from work at the time. good call-out