What Is the Vertical Acceleration at the Lowest Point of a Swinging Pendulum?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a pendulum problem involving vertical acceleration at the lowest point of its swing. The pendulum has a mass of 11 kg, a period of 1.6 seconds, and is displaced at an angle of 12 degrees from the vertical.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the effects of gravity on the pendulum's acceleration, questioning whether the vertical acceleration is simply -9.8 m/s². There is discussion about the role of tension in the rod or string at the lowest point of the swing, with some participants suggesting that the forces may cancel out.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants examining different aspects of the problem. Some have suggested that additional information, such as the tension in the rod or string, is necessary to fully analyze the situation. There is no explicit consensus on the vertical acceleration at this point.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need for more information to solve the problem accurately, highlighting the importance of understanding the forces acting on the pendulum at the lowest point of its swing.

mattmannmf
Messages
170
Reaction score
0
original pendulum of mass 11 kg with a period of 1.6 sec, displaced an angle of 12 degrees from the vertical. What would its acceleration be in the vertical (y) direction as it reachs the lowest point on its swing?

wouldn't it just be -9.8? (since its just the force of gravity acting on it)
 
Physics news on Phys.org


It is a pendulum, which means it is attached by a rod or string. In either event, what does that do to the force of gravity at the low point?
 


umm...not sure...
 


Well if you look at the free body diagram the tension in the rod cancels out the force of gravity.
 


ok so its just zero
 


yep.
 


you need more information to solve the problem. you need to know the tension in the rod or string that's supporting the pendulum. Then you will be able to solve the eqn
ΣF=ma=mg-T Cos θ
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
4K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
23
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K