Pendulum, find the damping constant of the air.

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the damping constant of air for a pendulum with a length of 1 meter and a bob mass of 50 grams, released from an initial angle of 15 degrees. After 1000 seconds, the amplitude decreases to 5.5 degrees. The formula used is x = A * exp(-bt/2m), where A is the initial amplitude. The calculation confirms that the damping constant b is derived correctly, yielding a value of 0.001.

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A pendulum length of 1m has a bob which has a mass of 50g. It is released from an initial angle of 15degrees. After 1000s, its amplitude is reduced by the damping force of the air to 5.5degrees. What is the value of the damping constant of the air?

Ans.
I need to check whether what i am doing is correct.

the displacement of the pendulum bob will be given by

x= A * exp(-bt/2m)

where A is the amplitude.

i just put all the value in

5.5 = 15 * exp(-b1000/2*0.05)

5.5/15 = exp(-b10000)

the value b will be damping constant of the air...

correct and logical?
 
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Yes, I used that method for a very similar textbook problem (the only difference mass was not given and the question asked for b/2m) and got the right answer (.001).

:)
 

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