The diagram shows four positions of the bob of a simple pendulum. At which of these positions does the bob have maximum kinetic energy and minimum potential...

The diagram shows four positions of the bob of a simple pendulum. At which of these positions does the bob have maximum kinetic energy and minimum potential energy

Answer Details

At position 1, the bob of the simple pendulum has the maximum potential energy and zero kinetic energy. At position 4, the bob has the maximum kinetic energy and minimum potential energy. To understand this, we need to know that the energy of a simple pendulum is converted back and forth between kinetic energy and potential energy as it swings back and forth. When the bob is at its highest point (position 1), it has the maximum potential energy because it is farthest from the ground and has the most potential to move downward. At this point, the bob has zero kinetic energy because it is momentarily at rest. As the bob swings downward towards the equilibrium point, it gains speed and its potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. At the equilibrium point (position 2), the bob has equal amounts of kinetic and potential energy. As the bob continues to move downward, its potential energy decreases and its kinetic energy increases. At position 3, the bob has minimum potential energy and some amount of kinetic energy. At the lowest point of its swing (position 4), the bob has maximum kinetic energy because it is moving at its fastest speed. At this point, the bob has minimum potential energy because it is closest to the ground and has the least amount of potential to move downward. So, to summarize, the bob has maximum potential energy at position 1, equal amounts of kinetic and potential energy at position 2, minimum potential energy at position 3, and maximum kinetic energy at position 4.