Simple pendulum
Swing out and back, and discover the secret of the period.
For small swings, the period of a simple pendulum depends only on its length and the gravitational acceleration. The longer the pendulum, the slower it swings; the stronger the gravity, the faster it swings.
Angle vs. time
Think about it
If the pendulum length is increased to 4 times its original value, how does the period change?
The period becomes 2 times as long. Since T is proportional to √L, √4 = 2. Try changing the length from 0.5 m to 2 m and watch what happens.
Model assumptionsIdeal pendulum · small-angle approximation (≤ 15°) · air resistance ignored
Data log
Set the parameters and click “Record data”. Record several rows with different parameters to plot their relationship and fit a straight line; pause and record at different times to study how a reading changes with time.