Direction of acceleration in pendulum bob?

In summary, a simple pendulum with a mass M tied to a string is observed swinging freely from rest at the left position in the given figure. The acceleration of the mass at positions 1,2,3,4,5 as it swings from left to right can be represented by ABBBB, where A represents the acceleration at position 1 and B represents the acceleration at positions 2,3,4,5. The downward component of the mass is split into vertical and horizontal components, with tension being balanced by mgcos(theta) and mgsin(theta) producing acceleration in the pendulum. The acceleration is always directed towards the center due to the tension in the string.
  • #1
SUROJL
13
0
A simple pendulum consists of a mass M tied to a string and swings freely
starting from rest at the position on the left in the figure below.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/695/screenshot20110922at611.png/

Select the vectors which best represent the acceleration of mass M at the five
positions labeled 1,2,3,4,5 as the mass
swings from left to right. (If for position 1 the
acceleration is A, and for positons 2,3,4,5 it
is B, enter ABBBB.


Attempts
The mg component which is downward is split-ted into vertical and horizontal component. Tension is balanced by mgcos(theta) and mgsin(theta) produces acceleration in the bob of pendulum
 
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  • #2
the acceleration "should" always point toward the center. This is due to the tension in the wire.

*still, I'd wait for another reply to confirm this.
 

FAQ: Direction of acceleration in pendulum bob?

What is the direction of acceleration in a pendulum bob?

The direction of acceleration in a pendulum bob is constantly changing as the bob moves back and forth. At the highest point of the swing, the acceleration is directed towards the center of the Earth (in the case of a simple pendulum). As the bob moves towards the lowest point, the acceleration is directed away from the center of the Earth. This constant change in direction is what causes the pendulum to continue swinging.

How does the direction of acceleration affect the motion of a pendulum bob?

The direction of acceleration determines the path of the pendulum bob. As mentioned before, the acceleration is directed towards the center of the Earth when the bob is at the highest point of the swing, causing it to move towards that point. As the bob reaches the lowest point, the acceleration is directed away from the center of the Earth, causing the bob to move away from that point. This back and forth motion is what creates the swinging motion of a pendulum.

Is the direction of acceleration the same throughout the entire swing?

No, the direction of acceleration is constantly changing as the pendulum bob moves back and forth. At the highest point of the swing, the acceleration is directed towards the center of the Earth, while at the lowest point, it is directed away from the center of the Earth. The direction of acceleration is always perpendicular to the velocity of the bob, which is constantly changing as well.

How does the length of the pendulum affect the direction of acceleration?

The length of the pendulum affects the direction of acceleration because it determines the speed at which the bob moves. A longer pendulum will have a longer period of oscillation, meaning it will take longer for the bob to complete one swing. This also means that the acceleration will be directed towards the center of the Earth for a longer period of time, resulting in a slower swinging motion. In contrast, a shorter pendulum will have a shorter period of oscillation and a faster swinging motion.

Can the direction of acceleration ever be zero in a pendulum?

Yes, the direction of acceleration can be zero at two specific points in a pendulum's swing: at the highest point and the lowest point. At these points, the velocity of the bob is zero, meaning there is no change in its direction. Therefore, the acceleration is also zero. However, this is only true for an ideal pendulum without any external forces acting on it. In the real world, there will always be some friction or air resistance, causing the acceleration to never truly be zero.

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