Simple pendulum: description

String:   𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠=0
{𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡h , 𝐿
Bob: 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
  ,𝑚
(Equilibrium
position)

⃗𝑇 

𝑚  ⃗𝑔
Air resistance is neglected.
Simple pendulum: Equation of motion
𝐿  𝜃  𝜃  𝐿 
 𝑦  𝑦 ⃗𝑇 
⃗𝑇 
 𝑥
𝑚⃗
𝑔𝑥
𝑚  ⃗
𝑔𝑦 𝑚⃗
𝑔𝑥   𝑚  ⃗
𝑔𝑦
𝜃
 
𝜃
   𝑥  
𝑚  ⃗𝑔
𝑚  ⃗𝑔

  : tends to restore the system to its equilibrium position.

Newton’s second law:

2
  𝑑 𝜃
∑ 𝑥
𝐹
⃗ =𝑚 𝑎
⃗ 𝑥 =𝑚 𝑎
⃗𝑡 → −𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃=𝑚 𝐿
𝑑 𝑡2
2
 𝑑 𝜃 + 𝑔 sin 𝜃=0
2
𝑑𝑡 𝐿

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20 2

Simple pendulum: Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple pendulum Block + Spring
2 2
 𝑑 𝜃 + 𝑔 sin 𝜃=0  𝑑 𝑥 +𝜔 2 𝑥= 0
2
𝐿 vs 𝑑𝑡
2
𝑑𝑡

The motion of a pendulum is not simple harmonic.

 BUT: For small angles ();

The restoring force becomes: 𝐹=−𝑚𝑔

  𝜃
𝟐
 𝒅 𝜽 𝟐
The equation of motion of the simple pendulum becomes: 𝟐
+𝝎 𝜽=𝟎  
𝒅𝒕

𝑔
 
√
where 𝜔= 𝐿 is the angular frequency.

The motion of a pendulum is simple harmonic for small angular displacement only.

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20 3

Simple pendulum: Solution of the equation of motion
𝟐
 𝒅 𝜽 𝟐 Equation of motion
𝟐
+𝝎 𝜽=𝟎  
𝒅𝒕 for small angles

One possible Solution:

Angular displacement: 𝜃=𝜃

  𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 𝜔 𝑡 + 𝜑 )

 𝑑 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
Angular velocity:
𝑑𝑡
=−𝜔 𝜃𝑚𝑎𝑥 sin ( 𝜔 𝑡 +𝜑 ) →
𝑑𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ]
  =𝜔 𝜃𝑚𝑎𝑥

𝑑𝜃
Linear velocity: 𝑣  =𝐿 =−𝜔 𝐿 𝜃𝑚𝑎𝑥 sin ( 𝜔 𝑡 + 𝜑 ) →
  𝑣 𝑚𝑎𝑥 =𝜔 𝐿 𝜃 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑑𝑡

𝑑2𝜃   𝑑 𝜃
2
Angular acceleration:  
2
= −
𝑑𝑡
𝜔
2
𝜃 𝑚𝑎𝑥 cos ( 𝜔 𝑡 +𝜑 ) →
𝑑𝑡
2 ] 𝑚𝑎𝑥
2
= 𝜔 𝜃𝑚𝑎𝑥

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20 4

Simple pendulum: Time characteristics

o Period: Time needed to complete one oscillation.

𝜃  𝑚𝑎𝑥

 
𝟐𝝅 𝑳

One oscillation
𝝎 √
𝑻 = =𝟐 𝝅
𝒈

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20 5