Illustrate the law of conservation of energy by discussing the energy changes which occur when we draw a pendulum bob to one side and allow it to oscillate. Why does the bob eventually come to rest? What happens to its energy eventually? Is it a violation of the law of conservation of energy?
Illustrate the law of conservation of energy by discussing the energy changes which occur when we draw a pendulum bob to one side and allow it to oscillate. Why does the bob eventually come to rest? What happens to its energy eventually? Is it a violation of the law of conservation of energy?
Law of conservation of energy:
- According to the rule of conservation of energy, the energy just changes its form. Neither it can be destroyed nor can be created.
- When a pendulum bob is raised from its resting position to an extreme position, its kinetic energy is converted into potential energy, as shown in the diagram below. The kinetic energy would be zero and the potential energy would be maximal at this point.
- Its potential energy will be turned into kinetic energy when it returns to its usual position, and the cycle will repeat.
Let's have a look at a pendulum that swings back and forth.
The phenomenon of resting of bob motion:
The pendulum loses kinetic energy in order to overcome the frictional resistance produced by air on the bob's surface and eventually comes to a stop.
Violation of the law of conservation of energy:
The law of conservation of energy is not breached since the kinetic energy wasted by the pendulum to overcome friction is acquired by the surroundings.
Law of conservation of energy:
- According to the rule of conservation of energy, the energy just changes its form. Neither it can be destroyed nor can be created.
- When a pendulum bob is raised from its resting position to an extreme position, its kinetic energy is converted into potential energy, as shown in the diagram below. The kinetic energy would be zero and the potential energy would be maximal at this point.
- Its potential energy will be turned into kinetic energy when it returns to its usual position, and the cycle will repeat.
Let's have a look at a pendulum that swings back and forth.
The phenomenon of resting of bob motion:
The pendulum loses kinetic energy in order to overcome the frictional resistance produced by air on the bob's surface and eventually comes to a stop.
Violation of the law of conservation of energy:
The law of conservation of energy is not breached since the kinetic energy wasted by the pendulum to overcome friction is acquired by the surroundings.
