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Energy of a Pendulum - Questions

The Energy of a Pendulum Concept Builder is comprised of 42 questions. The questions are divided into 12 different Question Groups. Questions in the same group are rather similar to one another. The Concept Builder is coded to select at random a question from each group until a student is successful with that group of questions.

There are three different activities that can be engaged in through the Concept Builder. Those three activities are differentiated as follows:
  • KE, PE, and TME: Question Groups 1 - 3 ... Describe how the KE, PE, and TME changes as a pendulum bob moves along its path. 
  • Energy Bar Charts: Question Groups 4-6 ... Identify the correct energy bar charts for various locations along a pendulum’s path.
  • Do It With Numbers: Question Groups 7-12 ... Given the KE and PE values at a given location along a pendulum’s path, identify the KE and PE values at a second location along its path.

The questions from each group are shown below. Teachers are encouraged to view the questions in order to judge which activities are most appropriate for their classes. We recommend providing students two or more options. 

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Energy of a Pendulum

  
 
Activity 1:  KE, PE, and TME
Question Group 1
Question 1
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Five locations along its path are shown. What changes would be observed as the pendulum swings from locations A to B to C?
The kinetic energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The potential energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The total mechanical energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 

Question 2
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Five locations along its path are shown. What changes would be observed as the pendulum swings from locations E to D to C?
The kinetic energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The potential energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The total mechanical energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
 
 
 
Question Group 2
Question 3
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Five locations along its path are shown. What changes would be observed as the pendulum swings from locations C to D to E?
The kinetic energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The potential energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The total mechanical energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
 
 

Question 4
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Five locations along its path are shown. What changes would be observed as the pendulum swings from locations C to B to A?
The kinetic energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The potential energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The total mechanical energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 3
Question 5
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Five locations along its path are shown. What changes would be observed as the pendulum swings from locations B to C to D?
The kinetic energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The potential energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The total mechanical energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
 


Question 6
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Five locations along its path are shown. What changes would be observed as the pendulum swings from locations D to C to B?
The kinetic energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The potential energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
​e. remains unchanged
 
The total mechanical energy would …
a. increase
b. decrease
c. first increase and then decrease
d. first decrease and then increase
e. remains unchanged
 
 
 

 
Activity 2  Energy Bar Charts
Question Group 4
Question 7
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 8
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 9
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 10
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Question Group 5
Question 11
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 12
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 13
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 
 
 
​
 
 
 
 
 

Question 14
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 
 
 
 
​
 
 
 
 

 

Question Group 6
Question 15
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 16
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 

 
 
 

Question 17
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 
 
 
​
 
 

 
 

Question 18
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc. Consider locations A, B and C as shown. Match each location to the corresponding energy bar chart.
 
 

​
 
 
 
 
 
 

Activity 3  Do It With Numbers
Question Group 7
Question 19
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 20 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 0 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.

 
 
 
 

Question 20
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 15 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 0 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 21
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 25 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 0 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 22
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 20 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 0 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 


Question Group 8
Question 23
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 0 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 20 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 24
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 0 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 25 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 

 

Question 25
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 0 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 15 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 

 
 

Question 26
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 0 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 20 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question Group 9
Question 27
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 15 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 0 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 

Question 28
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 20 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 0 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 


Question 29
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 25 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 0 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 

 
 

Question 30
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 15 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 0 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 

 

Question Group 10
Question 31
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 16 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 4 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 32
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 20 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 5 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 

 

Question 33
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 12 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 3 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 

Question 34
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 16 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 4 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Question Group 11
Question 35
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 3 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 12 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 


Question 36
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 4 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 16 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 

 

Question 37
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 5 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 20 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 38
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 3 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 12 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question Group 12
Question 39
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 5 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 20 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 40
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 4 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 16 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 41
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 3 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 12 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Question 42
A pendulum is swinging back and forth along its circular arc as shown. At location A, the potential energy (PE) is 5 J and the kinetic energy (KE) is 20 J. Determine the PE and KE values at location B.