Energy Transfers: Pendulum

• What does the conservation of energy mean?

  Energy cannot be created or destroyed
• How can energy be transferred within a system?

  It can be transferred, stored, or dissipated
• What is gravitational potential energy?

  Energy stored due to an object's height
• What is kinetic energy?

  Energy stored in a moving object
• What is elastic potential energy?

  Energy stored in a stretched spring
• What is thermal energy?

  Energy stored due to an object's temperature
• What is a system in physics?

  An object or group of objects
• What is a closed system?

  No energy can enter or leave
• What happens to gravitational potential energy in a pendulum?

  It converts to kinetic energy as it swings
• Where is kinetic energy maximum in a pendulum?

  At the bottom of the swing
• What happens to kinetic energy as the pendulum swings back up?

  It converts back to gravitational potential energy
• What role does friction play in the pendulum's motion?

  It causes energy to be dissipated as heat
• What happens to the thermal energy stores due to friction?

  They grow warmer as energy is dissipated
• What does it mean when energy is said to be dissipated?

  It is wasted and less useful
• What can be done to reduce unwanted energy transfers in a pendulum?

  Reduce friction using lubricants
• What is one way to reduce friction around a pendulum?

  Use oil as a lubricant
• What happens to the pendulum over time due to energy dissipation?

  It gradually swings with less energy
• What are the energy transfers in a pendulum's motion?

  1. Gravitational potential energy at the top
  2. Kinetic energy at the bottom
  3. Conversion back to gravitational potential energy
  4. Energy lost to thermal energy due to friction