Tangential Acceleration of a Pendulum

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To find the tangential acceleration of a pendulum bob at its highest point, start by calculating the maximum height using the given kinetic energy and potential energy from gravity. The pendulum bob, with a mass of 2 kg and a string length of 2 meters, is released at a velocity of 1.5 m/s from a 30-degree angle. The only force acting on the bob is gravity, which affects its tangential acceleration. The tangential acceleration can be determined by considering the angle of the pendulum with respect to gravity, which influences the effective gravitational force acting on the bob. Ultimately, the tangential acceleration is confirmed to be 5.77 m/s².
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Homework Statement


A 2kg pendulum bob on a string 2 meters long is released with a velocity of 1.5 meters/second when the support string makes an angle of 30 degrees with the vertical. What is the tangential acceleration of the bob at the highest point of its motion? The answer was given as 5.77 meters/second squared so I know that that is the answer but it's getting to that number that is giving me tons of trouble.


Homework Equations


Tangential acceleration = r(delta omega/change in time)


The Attempt at a Solution

I have an FBD and the only force acting on the bob is gravity. However the problem I'm having is that I am almost positive there is another equation I should be using but I'm not sure what it is or what I should try to solve for. Time? Maximum height? both?
 
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Consider the total energy of the system.

They give you the kinetic energy. You have the potential energy from gravity with reference to how high it is from the bottom. So figure the maximum height first, and then figure what angle that makes, and that angle to gravity is the fraction of gravity which is the tangential acceleration I think they are looking for.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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