SHM: pendulum

[heylollipop]

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Could someone explain to me why, in a pendulum system, the mass accelerates as it falls, but not with constant acceleration? In other words, why doesn't the velocity of the mass increase uniformly as it falls?

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

While gravity remains constant throughout its flight, the tension acting on the object is changing as it traverses its path, so the resultant force vector varies. Without a constant acceleration, you don't get uniform increase in speed.