Newton's Laws: Analyzing Forces on a Pendulum in Introductory Physics

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The discussion focuses on understanding the forces acting on a pendulum in the context of Newton's laws for high school physics certification. The original poster seeks the formula for the force on a pendulum, noting familiarity only with its period. Responses emphasize that analyzing the pendulum involves understanding the gravitational force acting downward and the tension in the pendulum arm, which requires breaking these forces into vertical and horizontal components using trigonometry. Participants encourage further exploration through online resources and suggest asking specific questions based on that research. The conversation highlights the importance of conceptual understanding over memorizing formulas in introductory physics.
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I am working on HS Physics teacher certification, the study guide lists one the competencies as follow:

​"Identifies and applies Newton's laws to analyze and solve a variety of practical problems (e.g., properties of frictional forces, acceleration of a particle on an inclined plane, displacement of a mass on a spring, forces on a pendulum)."

Does anyone know the formula for "force on a pendulum"? I know only the period for pendulum. Keep in mind that this is introductory-level physics, any help from experts out there would be very much appreciated. Thanks for your time and effort.
 
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rputra said:
I am working on HS Physics teacher certification, the study guide lists one the competencies as follow:

​"Identifies and applies Newton's laws to analyze and solve a variety of practical problems (e.g., properties of frictional forces, acceleration of a particle on an inclined plane, displacement of a mass on a spring, forces on a pendulum)."

Does anyone know the formula for "force on a pendulum"? I know only the period for pendulum. Keep in mind that this is introductory-level physics, any help from experts out there would be very much appreciated. Thanks for your time and effort.

Welcome to the PF.

I did a Google search on Pendulum Physics, and got lots of great hits. Why don't you give that a try, and post any specific questions about that reading here... :smile:
 
It's not a matter of a "formula", it's a matter of thinking! There is the force of gravity straight down on the bob of the pendulum of course and there is the force of the pendulum arm toward the pivot that keeps the bob from going straight down. Use a little trigonometry to break that into vertical and horizontal components.
 
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