Pendulum

A simple - or mathematical - pendulum consists of a rigid body suspended from a fixed horizontal axis about which the body may oscillate in a vertical plane due to the action of gravity.

The oscillating period for a simple pendulum can be calculated as

T = 2 π (l / a_g)^1/2                  (1)

where

T = oscillating period for one cycle (s)

l = length of the pendulum (m, ft)

a_g = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s², 32.17 ft/s²)

Example - Calculate the length of a pendulum with an oscillating period of 1 sec, 10 sec and 100 sec

The length of a pendulum with a given oscillating period can be calculated by transforming (1) to:

l = (T / (2 π))² a_g

Length for 1 sec - typically for an old fashion pendulum clock: 

l = ((1 s) / (2 π))² (9.81 m/s²)

  = 0.249 (m)

Pendulum clocks were the world standard for accurate timekeeping for 270 years until the quartz clock was invented in 1927.

Length for 10 sec:

l = ((10 s) / (2 π))² (9.81 m/s²)

  = 24.9  m

Length for 100 sec:

l = ((100 s) / (2 π))² (9.81 m/s²)

  = 2487 m

Four Types Of Pendulums

It is common to differentiate between four types of pendulums:

1. Compound or Physical Pendulum - A rigid body suspended from a fixed horizontal axis. The body may oscillate in a vertical plane due to the action of gravity. 
2. Simple or Mathematical Pendulum - Similar to the compound or physical pendulum but the mass is concentrated in a single point and oscillates back and forth in the vertical plane. The mass point is connected to a horizontal axis with a weightless chord.
3. Conical Pendulum - Similar to the simple pendulum except that the weight suspended by the chord moves in uniform speed around the circumference of a circle in the horizontal plane.
4. Torsional Pendulum - A disk fixed to a slender rod. The rod is fastened to a fixed frame. If the disk is twisted it will oscillate back and forth about the axis of the rod.