Why is a pendulum with a bob of the same size but larger mass than another bob damped more lightly?

The heavier bob has more kinetic energy/potential energy/momentum for any given amplitude of the two pendulums due to its larger mass, as each of these three quantities depend linearly on mass. The damping is due to air resistance and seeing as the bobs are the same size, we must consider the energy (potential/kinetic). The heavier bob will lose a smaller percentage of its energy per oscillation so it is therefore less heavily damped than the lighter bob.
We can also visualise this through inertia, where inertia is the resistance an object has to a change in its state of motion. Since greater mass = greater inertia, the heavier bob will have greater opposition to something, air resistance in this case, changing its state of motion.

LS
Answered by Lucy S. Physics tutor

10540 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain how a standing wave is formed


What is wave-particle duality?


What is electromotive force (emf) and how can the emf of a battery be measured?


How do you explain why puddles evaporate on cold days ?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning