College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
3A10.10 - Simple Pendulum
Video Credit: Jonathan M. Sullivan-Wood.
Set the pendulum bob in oscillatory motion.
- Meng Pan, Jie Zhang, "Effect of Angular Amplitude on the Result of a Pendulum Experiment", TPT, Vol. 61, #3, March 2023, p. 175.
- Peter F. Hinrichsen, "A Forgotten Simple Pendulum Period Equation", TPT, Vol. 59, #8, Nov. 2021, p. 646.
- Xiaorong Deng, Jiarui Zhang, Qiushi Chen, Junhui Zhang, Wei Zhuang, "Measurement of g Using a Pendulum and a Smartphone Proximity Sensor", TPT, Vol. 59, #7, Oct. 2021, p. 584.
- Jhon Alfredo Silva-Ale, "Determination of Gravity Acceleration with Smartphone Ambient Light Sensor", TPT, Vol. 59, #3, March 2021, p. 218.
- Tom Greenslade, Jr., "Designing a Holder for Pendulum String", TPT, Vol. 59, #3, March 2021, p. 167.
- Dean Li, Lilan Liu, Shaona Zhou, "Exploration of Large Pendulum Oscillations and Damping Using a Smartphone", TPT, Vol. 58, #9, Dec. 2020, p. 634.
- Samuele Straulino, "A Measurement of the Gravitational Acceleration with Many Different Pendula", TPT, Vol. 57, #6, Sept. 2019, p. 403.
- Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics Answer for December Question", TPT, Vol. 57, #1, Jan. 2019, p. 51.
- Patrik Vogt and Jochen Kuhn, "Analyzing Simple Pendulum Phenomena with a Smart - Phone Acceleration Sensor", TPT, Vol. 50, #7, Oct. 2012, p. 439.
- Martin Lieberherr, "Figuring the Acceleration of the Simple Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 49, #9, Dec. 2011, p. 576.
- J. Sinacore and H. Takai, "Measuring g Using a Magnetic Pendulum and Telephone Pickup", TPT, Vol. 48, #7, Oct. 2010, p. 448.
- Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics: Thalia on a Swing", TPT, Vol. 47, #6, Sept. 2009, p. 332.
- Julio V. Santos-Benito and Albert Gras-Marti, "Ubiquitous Drawing Errors for the Simple Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 43, #7, Oct. 2005, p. 466.
- Gerald E. Hite, "Approximations for the Period of a Simple Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 43, #3, May 2005, p. 290.
- Keith Clay, "The Pendulum, Gravity, and That Number '9.8'", TPT, Vol. 42, #1, Jan. 2004, p. 14.
- L. Edward Millet, "The Large-Angle Pendulum Period", TPT, Vol. 41, #3, Mar. 2003, p. 162.
- Art Stinner and Don Metz, "Pursuing the Ubiquitous Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 41, #1, Jan. 2003, p. 25.
- Ben Szapiro, "Simple-Pendulum Lab with a Twist", TPT, Vol. 40, #3, Mar. 2002, p. 158.
- Richard B. Kidd and Stuart L. Fogg, "A Simple Formula for the Large-Angle Pendulum Period", TPT, Vol. 40, #2, Feb. 2002, p. 81.
- James O'Connell, "Tension in a Pendulum String", TPT, Vol. 40, #1, Jan. 2002, p. 24.
- R. Keith Bardin, "A Proposition Well Known to Geometers", TPT, Vol. 39, #6, Sept. 2001, p. 324.
- Herman Erlichson, "A Proposition Well Known to Geometers", TPT, Vol. 39, #3, Mar. 2001, p. 152.
- José M. Vaquero and M. C. Gallego, "An Old Apparatus for Physics Teaching: Escriche's Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 38, #7, Oct. 2000, p. 424.
- David E. Holzwarth and Jim Malone, "Pendulum Period Versus Hanging-Spring Period", TPT, Vol. 38, #1, Jan. 2000, p. 47.
- Herman Erlichson, "Galileo's Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 37, #8, Nov. 1999, p. 478.
- M. I. Molina, "Simple Linearizations of the Simple Pendulum for Any Amplitude", TPT, Vol. 35, #8, Nov. 1997, p. 489.
- David L. Herrick, "Constant-Magnitude Acceleration on a Curved Path", TPT, Vol. 34, #5, May 1996, p. 306.
- David P. Jackson, "Rendering the 'Not-So-Simple Pendulum' Experimentally Accessible", TPT, Vol. 34, #2, Feb. 1996, p. 86.
- Cindy Schwarz, "The Not-So-Simple Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 33, #4, Apr. 1995, p. 225.
- T. F. Zheng, M. Mears, D. Hall, and D. Pushkin, S. Jorgensen, K. R. Banks, R. J. Hyatt, and Y. M. Shleyzer, "Teaching the Nonlinear Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 32, #4, Apr. 1994, p. 248.
- Jason Foat and Peter Siegel, "Transcendental Measurementation", TPT, Vol. 32, #4, Apr. 1994, p. 231.
- Vincent Santarelli, Joyce Carolla, and Michael Ferner, "A New Look at the Simple Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 31, #4, Apr. 1993, p. 236.
- Donald G. Bruns, "Synchronized Swinging", TPT, Vol. 26, #4, Apr. 1988, p. 220.
- Gaylord T. Hageseth, "The Liquid Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 25, #7, Oct. 1987, p. 427.
- E. Scott Barr, "π2≊g", TPT, Vol. 19, #7, Oct. 1981, p. 448.
- Mario Iona, "Due to Damping or Amplitude?", TPT, Vol. 19, #5, May 1981, p. 353.
- Robert Kern Curtis, "The Simple Pendulum Experiment", Vol. 19, #1, Jan. 1981, p. 36.
- Anthony Pitucco, "An Approximation of a Simple Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 18, #9, Dec. 1980, p. 666.
- Gordon R. Rode, "How Could We?", TPT, Vol. 17, #8, Nov. 1979, p. 496.
- Leung Chinn, "Demonstration of the Conservation of Mechanical Energy", TPT, Vol. 17, #6, Sept. 1979, p. 385.
- G. Bergamasco and E. Colombo, "Displaying Pendulum Motion on the CRO", TPT, Vol. 17, #1, Jan. 1979, p. 58.
- A. B. Arons, "The Author Replies", TPT, Vol. 15, #8, Nov. 1977, p. 509.
- Mario Iona, "Simple or Physical Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 15, #8, Nov. 1977, p. 453.
- Arnold B. Arons, "How Long is a Simple Pendulum?", TPT, Vol. 15, #5, May 1977, p. 300.
- Ian G. Ellis, "Anharmonic Motion Illustrator", TPT, Vol. 13, #6, Sept. 1975, p. 367.
- R. Mathevet, N. Lamrani, L. Martin, et al., "Quantitative Analysis of a Smartphone Pendulum Beyond Linear Approximation: A Lockdown Practical Homework", AJP, Vol. 90, #5, May 2022, p. 344.
- Salvador Gil, Andrés E. Legarreta, and Daniel E. Di Gregorio, "Measuring Anharmonicity in a Large Amplitude Pendulum", AJP, Vol. 76, #9, Sept. 2008, p. 843.
- F. M. S. Lima and P. Arun, "An Accurate Formula for the Period of a Simple Pendulum Oscillating Beyond the Small Angle Regime", AJP, Vol. 74, #10, Oct. 2006, p. 892.
- Margaret Stautberg Greenwood, "Using Videotapes to Study Underdamped Motion of a Pendulum: A Laboratory Project", AJP, Vol. 55, #7, July 1987, p. 645.
- D. L. Livesey, "The Precession of Simple Pendulum Orbits", AJP, Vol. 55, #7, July 1987, p. 618.
- Robert A. Nelson and M. G. Olsson, "The Pendulum - Rich Physics from a Simple System", AJP, Vol. 54, #2, Feb. 1986, p. 112.
- W. P. Ganley, "Simple Pendulum Approximation", AJP, Vol. 53, #1, Jan. 1985, p. 73.
- G. Wilkening and J. Hesse, "Electrical Pendulum for Educational Purpose", AJP, Vol. 49, #1, Jan. 1981, p. 90.
- M. G. Olsson, "The Precessing Spherical Pendulum", AJP, Vol. 46, #11, Nov. 1978, p. 1118.
- C. G. Montgomery, "Pendulum on a Massive Cord", AJP, Vol. 46, #4, Apr. 1978, p. 411.
- Saul T. Epstein and M. G. Olsson, "Comment on 'Effect of the Mass of the Cord on the Period of a Simple Pendulum'", AJP, Vol. 45, #7, July 1977, p. 671.
- Donald E. Hall and Michael J. Shea, "Large-Amplitude Pendulum Experiment: Another Approach", AJP, Vol. 45, #4, Apr. 1977, p. 355.
- Stephen D. Schery, "Design of an Inexpensive Pendulum for Study of Large-Angle Motion", AJP, Vol. 44, #7, July 1976, p. 666.
- Frank S. Crawford, "Damping of a Simple Pendulum", AJP, Vol. 43, #3, Mar. 1975, p. 276.
- B. J. Miller, "More Realistic Treatment of the Simple Pendulum without Difficult Mathematics", AJP, Vol. 42, #4, Apr. 1974, p. 298.
- "M-896. Pendulum Length vs. Period", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
- "M-884. Simple Pendulum", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
- C. L. Stong, "The Amateur Scientist: Little Pendulums That Oscillate Like Big Ones", Scientific American, Vol. 215, #4, Apr. 1967, p. 124.
- George M. Hopkins, "The Pendulum", Experimental Science, p. 45.
- Borislaw Bilash II and David Maiullo, "How Does It Swing", A Demo a Day: A Year of Physics Demonstrations, p. 172.
- Janice VanCleave, "Determine If A Swing Will Move Faster With A Lighter Person On It", Super Science Challenges, p. 127.
- "Further Investigation Into the Pendulum", The Boy Scientist, p. 225.
- "Galileo's Pendulum Experiment", The Boy Scientist, p. 224.
- Jearl Walker, "1.177, Carnival Bottle Swing", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 78.
- Ron Hipschman, "Pendulum Table", Exploratorium Cookbook III, p. 188.1 - 188.18.
- "Pendulums - Length vs. Period", Physics From the Junk Drawer, 3rd Edition, The Science House, North Carolina State University, p. 8.
- Yaakov Kraftmakher, "7.1, Moving-Coil Meter as a Pendulum", Experiments and Demonstrations in Physics, ISBN 981-256-602-3, p. 443.
- W. Bolton, "30. Simple Harmonic Motion (1)", Book I - Properties of Materials, Physics Experiments and Projects, 1968, p. 47.
- W. Bolton, "29. The Pendulum", Book I - Properties of Materials, Physics Experiments and Projects, 1968, p. 45 - 46.
- Borislaw Bilash II, “Simple Pendulums“, A Demo A Day – A Year of Physical Science Demonstrations, p. 240.
- Julius Sumner Miller, Q73 & A73, Millergrams I – Some Enchanting Questions for Enquiring Minds, p. 48 & 102.
- Joseph Frick, "#121 - The Pendulum", Physical Technics: Or, Practical Instructions for Making Experiments in Physics and the Construction of Physical Apparatus with the Most Limited Means", p. 145.
Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.