Pendulum PE question

[sanguinee]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Can someone better explain why the velocity is not increasing if both KE and PE are increasing due to the increase in mass?

 

[jamcat]

If you look at it mathematically, it's because at that lowest point of maximum velocity, all of the potential energy (mgh) has been converted into kinetic energy (1/2 mv^2). So we have mgh=1/2 mv^2, and m cancels out of the equation. Does that help?

 

[sanguinee]

@jamcat ohh, and the velocity remains unchanged then. Makes sense. Thank you!

 

[jamcat]

Yeah, m always cancels out, which is what TBR was saying when they explained that heavy objects fall at the same speed as light ones.