
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Join Physics Forums Today!

Simple pendulum oscillation

  1. May 28, 2003 #1


    User Avatar


    I have two test questions that I missed AT school so i wrote them down. I wanted to know the correct answers as well as a short description of how they came up with that.

    1) a simple pendulum consists of a mass attached to a weightless string L. For this system when undergoing small oscillation

    a. frequency proportional to amplitude -->that was my original answer
    b. period proportional to amplitude
    c. frequency independent of mass
    frequency is independent of length

    My new answer from what I read and understand would be d, am i correct?

    2) Simple pendulum A swings back n forth at twice the frequency of a simple pendulum B. what statement is correct?

    a. B is twice as long as A
    b. B is twice as massive as A
    c the length of B is 4 times the length of A
    d. the mass of B is 4 times the mass of A

    i dont remember but i think the formula is 1/2pi * sqrt(g/L)
    anyways can anyone tell me the correct answer and briefly why?

  2. jcsd
  3. May 28, 2003 #2

    Tom Mattson

    User Avatar
    Staff Emeritus
    Science Advisor
    Gold Member

    Dx, just look up the formulas for the frequency of a physical pendulum. That tells the whole story for #1. As for #2, you got the formula right, so use it to get the answer.


    You are told that fA=2fB

    Can you take it from there?
  4. May 28, 2003 #3


    User Avatar


    Ill take it tom. ill let you know how it went, k
    dx :wink: