Galileo's Pendulum: Qualitative Observational Experiment

Aim

To create an idea of energy conservation

Prior Knowledge

• Understanding of systems and kinetic and potential energy.

Description of the Experiment

Observe the experiment, describe your observations and explain them using your knowledge of energy. Decide what your system is.

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Questions

• What changes occur to the pendulum motion during the experiment?
• What aspects of motion do not change?
• What is the initial and final state of the system in each sub experiment?
• How can you explain your observations using the ideas of energy?