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Pendulum Motion. Motion of a Mass on a Spring. A simple pendulum consists of a relatively massive object hung by a string from a fixed support. It typically hangs vertically in its equilibrium position. The massive object is affectionately referred to as the pendulum bob.
A pendulum is a body suspended from a fixed support such that it freely swings back and forth under the influence of gravity. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting, equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back towards the equilibrium position.
Learn about the simple pendulum, a mathematical idealization of a mass suspended from a pivot point that swings back and forth. Find out how to calculate the period, frequency, and amplitude of a pendulum using basic physics concepts and equations.
A simple pendulum is defined to have a point mass, also known as the pendulum bob, which is suspended from a string of length L with negligible mass (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)). Here, the only forces acting on the bob are the force of gravity (i.e., the weight of the bob) and tension from the string.
Learn how a pendulum can be treated as a simple harmonic oscillator, and what factors affect its period. Watch the video, read the transcript, and see the questions and answers from other learners.
The Pendulum Motion Video Tutorial provides a wealth of details about the motion of a pendulum. Discussion topics include forces, free-body diagrams, force analysis with components, changes in speed and direction, position-time graphs, velocity-time graphs, changes in kinetic and potential energy, and the period-length relationship.
Learn the key terms, equations, and skills for simple pendulums, which are simple harmonic oscillators for small angles. See examples, common mistakes, and questions with answers.
