Q.Define simple pendulum. Deduce an expression for the time period of a simple pendulum. Write the factors on which the time period of a simple pendulum depends. OR Find the equation of
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →A simple pendulum is a point mass on a light, inextensible string; for small oscillations it executes SHM with time period T = 2pisqrt(l/g), depending only on length l and gravity g.
A simple pendulum is an idealized mechanical system consisting of a point mass (a heavy, small bob) suspended from a rigid, fixed support by a massless, inextensible string, free to swing back and forth in a vertical plane under gravity.
Derivation of time period:
Let the pendulum of length l be displaced through a small angle theta from the vertical (mean position). The restoring force along the arc of motion is the component of gravity tangential to the path: F = -mg sin(theta).
For small angles (theta in radians, small oscillations), sin(theta) is approximately equal to theta, and theta is approximately equal to x/l where x is the small arc displacement from the mean position.
So, F is approximately equal to -mg (x/l) = -(mg/l) x.
By Newton's second law, F = ma, so:
ma = -(mg/l) x
a = -(g/l) x
This is the equation for simple harmonic motion, a = -omega^2 x, with angular frequency:
omega^2 = g/l, i.e., omega = sqrt(g/l).
Time period, T = 2pi/omega = 2pi*sqrt(l/g).
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