• A simple pendulum is another type of simple harmonic oscillator
  • The pendulum consists of a string and a bob (a weight, generally spherical) at the end

   

• The?time period?of a simple pendulum is given by:

• Where:
  • T?= time period (s)
  • L?= length of string (m)
  • g =?gravitational field strength (N kg-1)

   

• Length?L?is taken from the pivot to the centre of mass of the bob
• Normally, the bob is taken as a point mass, so l is just the length of the string

A simple pendulum

• The time period of a pendulum does depend on the gravitational field strength, meaning its period would be different on the Earth and the Moon
• The limitation with this formula, and the conditions for which it applies one for?small angles?from the equilibrium point (~10°) (and therefore small?amplitudes)