Pendulum In this task, you’ll make a pendulum and analyze its swing. a hand holding a swinging pendulum shown in three positions Estimated time to complete: 20 minutes You will need these materials: goggles golf ball (or similar size ball) plastic sandwich bag tape hole punch or scissors 1 foot of string metal lid or pan Stay safe! Always wear your safety goggles. Part A Place the ball in the plastic bag, and twist the top so the ball is secure in the bag. Wrap the twisted portion with tape so it stays tight. Use the hole punch or scissors to poke a hole in the part of the bag that’s above the ball. Slip an end of the string through the hole, and tie a knot. This is your pendulum. Hold the loose end of the string still with one hand. With the other hand, raise the ball in an arc so that it’s almost level with the hand holding the string. With the string taut, let the ball go. What do you observe? Font Sizes Characters used: 0 / 15000 Part B Why did the pendulum stop swinging? Where did the energy go? Font Sizes Characters used: 0 / 15000 Part C Scientists have organized all forms of energy into two types—kinetic and potential. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, and potential energy is stored energy. At the top of its swing, does the pendulum have kinetic or potential energy? Font Sizes Characters used: 0 / 15000 Part D At the bottom of its swing, does the pendulum have kinetic or potential energy? Font Sizes Characters used: 0 / 15000 Part E Think about the process of raising the pendulum to one side and letting it go. For this event, create a list of each form of energy associated with the pendulum as it cycles. Font Sizes Characters used: 0 / 15000 Part F How could you give the pendulum more energy? Font Sizes Characters used: 0 / 15000 Part G Now raise the pendulum and let it hit a metal lid or pan. When the ball strikes the lid, what forms of energy can you identify?

A: Place the ball in the plastic bag, and twist the top so the ball is secure in the bag. Wrap the twisted portion with tape so it stays tight. Use the hole punch or scissors to poke a hole in the part of the bag that’s above the ball. Slip an end of the string through the hole, and tie a knot. This is your pendulum. Hold the loose end of the string still with one hand. With the other hand, raise the ball in an arc so that it’s almost level with the hand holding the string. With the string taut, let the ball go. What do you observe?

Mine was swaying perfectly fine. after a little bit it gradually started swinging slower until stopped.

B: Why did the pendulum stop swinging? Where did the energy go?

gravity was pulling it towards the ground, however the weight and momentum of the ball helped it keep swinging for a good while.

C: Scientists have organized all forms of energy into two types—kinetic and potential. Kinetic [THE ENERGY OF MOTION IN A BODY] energy is the energy of motion, and potential energy [THE STORED ENERGY IN AN OBJECT] is stored energy. At the top of its swing, does the pendulum have kinetic or potential energy?

when its at the very top of the swing it does have a very small amount of time until it starts going back down again but during that time it is potential energy

D: At the bottom of its swing, does the pendulum have kinetic or potential energy?

the pendulum still has kinetic energy when it is the closest to the ground since it is still swinging

E: Think about the process of raising the pendulum to one side and letting it go. For this event, create a list of each form of energy associated with the pendulum as it cycles.

when its in my hand: potential energy

when it starts swinging: kinetic energy

when its going upwards: kinetic energy

when it stops swinging: potential energy

F: How could you give the pendulum more energy?

one way you could possibly make it have more energy is if you make the string longer

G: Now raise the pendulum and let it hit a metal lid or pan. When the ball strikes the lid, what forms of energy can you identify?

I could hear sound energy when the two made contact but for the most part it was kinetic energy