AP Physics 1 Notes: Pendulums Period of a Simple Pendulum ple Harmonic Motion in Pendulums: ‘A simple pendulum is one in which a mass (the bob) is suspended by a light string or rod At small angles of oscillation, the period of a simple pendulum depends on two things: 1) the length of the pendulum (I) 2) the gravitational field strength (x) more specifically, at small angles (0 28 radians or 22.5° period of a pendulum (s) length from pivot to center of mass (kg) 5 It 2m fi {g> gravitational field strength (Nk) (aka. acceleration due to gravity in mis!) *NOTICE: at small angles the period does NOT depend on the mass or the amplitude! If you think carefully about the conditions necessary for simple harmonic motion — (1) periodic motion about an equilibrium position, in which (2) a restoring force is always directed towards equilibrium, and (3) the size of the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from equilibrium — it is not completely obvious how the motion of a pendulum meets all of these conditions. But it does, At least for small angles of amplitud Freleng = masind For small angles (0 Tred #228) sn O02 . Fresting * me of amplitude, a swinging pendulum is in SHM. ‘This means that all of the pring system still en So at small ar graphical relationships between quantities to describe the SHM of a mas apply to pendulums (i.c., position vs, time, velocity vs. time, acceleration vs. time, position, energy vs. time, ete.) vs.