Conical Pendulum, Mass and Period

1. Jan 3, 2005

deanchhsw

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

2. Jan 3, 2005

deanchhsw

To simplify the question,

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

Why is this so?

3. Jan 3, 2005

Pyrrhus

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 $T = \frac{2 \pi}{\omega}$.