Pendulum in accelerating train · PhysicsBowl 2025 #5
Physics · mechanics
Problem
A simple pendulum is hanging from the ceiling of a train car. It is observed to hang at 10° to the right of vertical. Which of the following could describe this observation?
a. The train car is at rest.
b. The train car is accelerating to the left.
c. The train car is moving with constant velocity to the left.
d. The train car is accelerating to the right.
e. The train car is moving with constant velocity to the right.