Question

A simple pendulum is oscillating between two points A and B as shown in Figure. Is the motion of the bob uniform or non-uniform?

Fig. \( 13.5 \)

Answer 1

The motion of a simple pendulum

1. The motion of a simple pendulum is one type of simple harmonic motion.
2. The acceleration of the pendulum in a simple harmonics motion is proportional to the displacement and the force is directed towards the fixed point.
3. The pendulum is oscillating from point A to B. For a simple harmonic oscillation, the speed of the pendulum is maximum at the mean position (in the figure at point O) and minimum at the ends.
4. The speed of a simple harmonic pendulum is not uniform, so the motion of the simple pendulum is not uniform.

Diagram

Therefore, the motion of the bob is non-uniform.