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

10873 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A ball is released from stationary at a great height. Explain how the forces acting on it change before it hits the ground and how these forces affect the velocity of the ball.


Explain why a transformer only works with an alternating current and doesn't with a direct current.


If a car is traveling at a speed of 10m/s. The driving force of 500N is required to keep the speed constant . What is the power supplied by the engine?


A space probe of mass 1000kg, moving at 200m/s, explosively ejects a capsule of mass 300kg. The speed of the probe after the explosion is 250m/s. What is the velocity of the capsule?


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:

© 2026 by IXL Learning