UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE
The physics behind the experiment
For small angular displacement, the pendulum approximately undergoes SHM, with angular frequency ω ≈ √(g/L) and period T ≈ 2π√(L/g). The model uses the small-angle approximation, so the amplitude is limited to 3–12°.
Try this guided investigation
- Set length to 1.0 m and Earth gravity to 9.81 m/s².
- Measure the period using the elapsed-time readout.
- Double the length. Check whether the period doubles or increases by √2.
All numerical values follow the model assumptions stated here; artwork is schematic, not a scale engineering drawing.