Period of Pendulum Before String Extension

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AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the period of a mathematical pendulum before its string is extended by 60 cm. The formula used is T=2pi*sqrt(l/g), where l is the length of the pendulum. The user initially calculated the length incorrectly, leading to an erroneous period of 1.83 seconds instead of the correct 0.9 seconds. Upon reevaluation, the user identified a mistake in their arithmetic, confirming that the correct length is 1/5, which aligns with the accurate period. The final conclusion emphasizes the importance of careful calculations in solving physics problems.
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Homework Statement



For a mathematical pendulum, you notice that if you extend the string with 60 cm, then the time of one period will double for small oscillations. What was the period of time before the line was extended?

Homework Equations



T=2pi*sqrt(l/g) where l is the length of the pendulum.

The Attempt at a Solution



If I assume that the first pendulum has a length l, then the period will of course be: T=2pi*sqrt(l/g). If I now extend it by 0.6m, the period will double: 2T=2pi*sqrt((l+0.6)/g) which is equal to T=pi*sqrt((l+0.6)/g).

Now I set my first equation equal to the last one:

T=2pi*sqrt(l/g)=T=pi*sqrt((l+0.6)/g) , squaring LHS and RHS----> 4l/g=(l+0.6)/g ---->

4l=l+0.6---> l=5/6. If I insert this value of l into my first equation I get that T=1.83 seconds which is wrong. Correct answer is 0.9 seconds.

Or is there another way of solving?
 
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zeralda21 said:
Now I set my first equation equal to the last one:

T=2pi*sqrt(l/g)=T=pi*sqrt((l+0.6)/g) , squaring LHS and RHS----> 4l/g=(l+0.6)/g ---->
Looks OK.
4l=l+0.6---> l=5/6.
Redo that last step!
 
Doc Al said:
Looks OK.

Redo that last step!

What a mistake..I assumed 0.6=5/3 instead of 3/5. The length 1/5 is correct and matches with period. Thank you very much sir.
 
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