Conical Pendulum, Mass and Period

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between mass and the period of a conical pendulum. It is established that mass does not affect the period due to the proportional relationship between driving force and inertial mass. The centripetal force equation, Fc = Sin(theta) * Mass * Tension, illustrates that while heavier masses experience greater forces, they also require greater forces to achieve the same acceleration, resulting in a constant period for all masses. The conclusion is that all swinging objects with differing masses exhibit the same period, as mass cancels out in the period equation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of centripetal force and tension in circular motion
  • Familiarity with the concept of conical pendulums
  • Knowledge of the relationship between mass, force, and acceleration
  • Basic grasp of angular frequency and its relation to period
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the centripetal force equation in circular motion
  • Explore the mathematical relationship between angular frequency (ω) and period (T)
  • Investigate the principles of simple harmonic motion and its relation to pendulums
  • Examine real-world applications of conical pendulums in physics
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of pendulum motion and the effects of mass on oscillatory systems.

deanchhsw
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Hello.

I am having trouble understand the varying mass's effect on the period of a conical pendulum. Well, I understand that there is no effect. However, I am having trouble verifying that in a centripetal force equation for circular motion. Most generally, conical pendulum's centripetal force is the sine component of its tension: therefore Fc = Sin theta * Mass * Tension. Therefore, in theory, the greater the mass, the greater Fc, thereby altering velocity and consequentially affecting the period.

However, the I found an explanation here in some web source:

We can state that a heavier object with the larger (heavy) mass will experience a larger driving force in the direction of the equilibrium position. However, this heavier object will have a larger inert mass and will need a larger force to experience the same acceleration. Because heavy mass and inert mass are strictly proportional to each other both effect cancel. All swinging objects, which differ only by their mass, show the same period.

I still have trouble understanding this, however,
can somebody explain this to me more clearly, so to speak?
Thank you very much
 
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To simplify the question,

"All swinging objects, which differ only by their mass, show the same period."

Why is this so?
 
Because the mass doesn't plays a role in the period equation, why don't do get an expression for \omega and remember the period T = \frac{2 \pi}{\omega}.
 

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