Analysis
1. What type of energy did the pendulum have before person #2 let go? Calcuate this for both pendulums.
2. Referring to your calculations from #1 , which pendulum had more initial energy? Explain why this make sense.
3. How could we made both pendulums have more initial energy?
4. What type of energy did the pendulum have after person #2 let go? Explain how you know.
5.when in the pendulum's swing should it have had the most gravitational potential energy? Explain how you know. You may draw a picture if that helps.
6. When in the pendulum's should it have had the most kinetic energy? Explain how you know. You may draw a picture if that helps.
7. Calculate the peak kinetic energy for both pendulums in their swings.
8. Referring to calculation from #7, which pendulum more kinetic energy? Explain why this make sense.
9. How could we have made both pendulums have more kinetic energy?
10. In Concept 2 we will learn about the Law of Conservation of Energy, which states that energy can never be created or destroyed, it can only change forms. Where do you think the energy you described in
#4 came from?
Thinking Ahead: What do you think the relationship is between is between kinetic and potential energy is systems like the pendulum ride we investigated today?
