Energy Transfer in Pendulums – A Simple System with Powerful Physics
Pendulums are one of the simplest systems we can build in the lab — a mass on a string — yet they reveal some of the most fundamental ideas in physics. At Philip M Russell Ltd, we use pendulums to teach energy transfer, periodic motion, and the beauty of simple harmonic systems in a way students can see, measure, and understand.
Whether it’s a single bob swinging in front of a camera or a multi-pendulum system filmed in slow motion, pendulums make abstract concepts tangible.
Potential Energy → Kinetic Energy → Back Again
A pendulum is constantly exchanging energy between two forms:
1. Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE)
At the top of the swing, the pendulum is lifted above its lowest point.
All its energy is stored as GPE:
2. Kinetic Energy (KE)
As it falls, GPE is converted into kinetic energy.
At the bottom of the swing, the pendulum is moving at its fastest:
3. Back into Potential Energy
As the pendulum climbs the other side, KE is converted back into GPE — slowing the pendulum until it momentarily stops at the next turning point.
This rhythmic energy transfer continues until friction, air resistance, and internal losses cause the motion to die away.
Why Pendulums Are Perfect for Teaching
Clear visual energy transfer
Students see the system slowing and rising — perfect for introducing conservation of energy.
Easy to record and analyse
Even a smartphone can capture:
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speed changes
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height differences
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timing of oscillations
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energy graphs over time
With our lab setup, high-contrast backgrounds and light gates give accurate timing data.
Links across the curriculum
Pendulums connect to:
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conservation of energy
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simple harmonic motion
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damping
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resonance
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gravitational field strength
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periodic time and length relationships
A single experiment supports GCSE and A-level teaching alike.
Using Pendulums in the Lab and on Video
At Philip M Russell Ltd, we film pendulum motion from multiple angles to show:
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the change in speed at different points
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how amplitude affects energy
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how damping removes energy from the system
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resonance when multiple pendulums interact
Slow-motion clips, overlays, and tracked energy graphs help students understand what equations represent.
The Takeaway
Pendulums may look simple, but they are one of the best tools for teaching energy transfer.
Their predictable, measurable motion makes them perfect for lessons, demonstrations, videos, and online tuition sessions — and they remind students that physics doesn’t need to be complicated to be profound.
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