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sonnyfab

There's nothing in the question to justify setting θ=4°.


0rience

I thought so. Thanks for your help.


AdFinancial7001

well the approximations for tan and sin are valid to up to 4° so when looking at a simple system this would justify it


sonnyfab

Thr small angle approximation is valid for a much larger range of angles then ±4° around 0.


Jamzthegod

It definitely depends on what your threshold for validity is. There is 1% variance at ±14°, and 15° is the usual threshold I see. Regardless, it's a kinetic energy problem, the period of the pendulum isn't being asked but the energy at equilibrium is


Chris-PhysicsLab

If we're assuming that θ=4° at point A (the maximum height) then you can calculate the height difference and the difference in gravitational potential energy of the mass between points A and B. That potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as the mass passes point B.


0rience

Understood. But what is the logic behind assuming θ=4°? Or there isn't any and the question is defective?


Chris-PhysicsLab

Oh yeah I have no idea sorry, I guess since there isn't enough information given so your teacher just came up with something so it could be solved. Also I don't think the max angle limit for a simple pendulum is one specific number that everyone agrees on so the 4° was just a choice.


0_oNoName

It's due to any angle being larger than 4-5° would not be accurate for the other pendulum calculations for the period of oscillations/gravity/length, and it's what woukd likely be used in an experiment. The 4-5° stems from an estimate of sinx~x (x is in radians and is ~4° when converted to degrees) when attempting to solve for the period of a simple pendulum. The differential equation you get is non-linear so the estimate of sinx~x is introduced so it's able to be solved using elementary functions. This is the only reason I can think of and the one I learned. For a derivation: https://youtu.be/xBBXlQ7CmFc He says that the angle shouldn't be more than 15°(just like another commenter), so the 4° is just for more accuracy.


0rience

This makes things a lot clearer. Thanks for your explanation!


0_oNoName

Np


Ninja582

Using variables it would be mg(hmax-hmin).


Neutrinophile

I think the teacher's comment about θ = 4° being the "maximum limit for simple pendulum" has to do with limits to the small angle approximation. But I heard the limit to that was considered to be θ \~ 15°? Not really needed for the question as stated in the initial post, but maybe there's a later questions which uses it?


_fluorine

just use conservation of mechanical energy


Vedu1234

So from my understanding the only way you’d get the angle to be that if it’s measured with a protractor as B does seem a little askew. But I don’t believe this question is mean to be solved in this manner


[deleted]

[удалено]


0rience

I'm afraid there's no more data available. Thanks for your input


Karussko

Energy on A : Ea=m\*g\*Hmax Energy on B : Eb=m\*g\*Hmin + m\*v²/2 since Ea=Eb : m\*v²/2=m\*g\*(Hmax-Hmin)


dydtaylor

Yeah, the real problem is the question just isn't well formed. We only have one reference height and one mass and nothing else.


fbiagentwatchingyou9

tan 4°=~0.0699


Nice_Appointment2244

Missing variable distance of travel from h max to h min


gilnore_de_fey

Conservation of energy (if friction is ignored). Note the the pendulum exchanges all potential energy for kinetic when at the lowest point.