Pendulum 1.6 m long: find its period

A simple pendulum 1.6 m long swings through a small angle (g = 10 m/s²). Find the period of one complete oscillation.

Step-by-step

1. T = 2π√(L/g) = 2π√(1.6/10) ≈ 2.5133
   For small swings a pendulum's period depends only on its length and gravity

Why it works

For small swings a simple pendulum is simple harmonic with T = 2π√(L/g), so the period is set only by the length and by g, not by the mass of the bob or the width of the swing.

Common mistakes

• Thinking that a heavier bob makes the swing slower.
• Measuring the length to the floor instead of from the pivot to the bob.

Related

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