Question
A simple pendulum oscillates with angular amplitude ϕ . If I is the length of string and m is the mass of pendulum, then what is the tension in string at the mean position?


Solution
At the mean position B, tension is given by,
where,
v is the velocity of bob at lowest point B.
Let A be the extreme position of the bob during oscillation and is at a height h from the lowest point B.
From the figure,
As the bob moves from A to B, the potential energy decreases by mgh and is converted into kinetic energy at B.