In: Physics
Compare and contrast a simple pendulum with a mass/spring pendulum. Be sure to address velocity, acceleration, and energy conversions.
In case of simple pendulum, we have only two forms of energy - gravitational potential and kinetic energy. The kinetic energy is maximum at the equilibrium position means when pendulum is at rest and is at its lowermost position.
The motion is provided by the weight component of pendulum and potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. The acceleration is directed towards the equilibrium at extreme positions. Friction forces are negligible ( except air resistance) as there are no contact surfaces
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In case of mass/spring system, we have spring potential energy and kinetic energy. The mass is responsible for the simple harmonic motion as it swings up and down or to and fro.
The velocity is this case is also maximum at equilibrium position and becomes zero at extreme positions and acceleration is maximum at extreme positions.
friction force is pretty evident here ( in case of horizontal system). The motion is provided by spring restoring force. As we pull the mass, the spring stores elastic potential energy and on release, this energy is converted to kinetic energy.