The bob of a pendulum was released from a horizontal position. The length of the pendulum is . If it dissipates of its initial energy against air resistance, the speed with which the bob arrives at the lowest point is:
- A
- B
- C
- D
The bob of a pendulum was released from a horizontal position. The length of the pendulum is . If it dissipates of its initial energy against air resistance, the speed with which the bob arrives at the lowest point is:
Correct answer:A
Standard Method
Given: The pendulum length is and of the initial energy is dissipated against air resistance.
Find: The speed of the bob at the lowest point.
When the bob is released from the horizontal position, its initial potential energy relative to the lowest point is
Using and ,
Using height as instead of is incorrect because the bob is released from the horizontal position, so the vertical drop to the lowest point is exactly . Use .
Subtracting from the final speed instead of from the initial energy is wrong because the question states that energy is dissipated. First reduce the energy to of its initial value, then compute the speed from kinetic energy.
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