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?

Question

Infinity Learn · Accepted Answer

The law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it only changes its form. When a pendulum bob is raised from its resting position to an extreme position (A and C), its kinetic energy is converted into potential energy. 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 mean position( B), and the cycle will repeat.The pendulum loses kinetic energy in order to overcome the frictional resistance produced by air on the bob's surface and eventually comes to rest.The energy eventually is conserved.The law of conservation of energy is not violated since the kinetic energy lost by the pendulum is converted in to friction that is acquired by the surrounding.

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?

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