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

11373 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A ball is thrown in the air with velocity of 50.0 m/s, assuming no air resistance calculate its maximum height.


What is the difference between a scalar and a vector quantity?


2 Capacitors (c1 = 500mf) and (c2=300mf), are connected in parallel to a 10v d.c supply. Calculate the total capacitance of the circuit, and hence the total energy stored in the capacitors.


An electrical heater supplies 500J of heat energy to a copper cylinder of mass 32.4g Find the increase in temperature of the cylinder. (Specific heat capacity of copper = 385 J*kg^-1*Celsius^-1


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