Questions about simple pendulum

In summary: You will find the period depends on the moment of inertia and the distance between the pivot and the center of mass. Does that answer the question?In summary, the conversation discusses the characteristics and conditions of a simple pendulum, including the requirement for a massless string, the definition of a simple pendulum, and the variables involved in determining the period of oscillation. The questions asked are related to the definition and characteristics of a simple pendulum and the variables affecting its motion.
  • #1
buffgilville
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1) A simple pendulum consist of a mass m tied to a string (considered massless) of length L. So would a baseball bat suspended from one end, swinging back and forth, make a simple pendulum?

No, right? because the "string" in this case is not massless. Does the string that is swinging the mass always have to be massless for it to be a simple pendulum?

2) Under what conditions does an oscillating mass tied to a string constitute a simple pendulum?

Is it considered a simple pendulum when the mass is displaced from the suspension point?

3) The period of the variable-g pendulum is T^2 = K(1/geff).
Upon what variables does K depend? (Hint: The moment of inertia is involved.)

don't know about this question :frown:
 
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  • #2
These questions strike me as a bit odd.
buffgilville said:
1) A simple pendulum consist of a mass m tied to a string (considered massless) of length L. So would a baseball bat suspended from one end, swinging back and forth, make a simple pendulum?

No, right? because the "string" in this case is not massless. Does the string that is swinging the mass always have to be massless for it to be a simple pendulum?
By usual definition, a simple pendulum is a point mass at the end of a massless "string". So, right, a baseball bat is not a "simple pendulum", but would be an example of a physical pendulum. But I'm not getting the point of the question.

2) Under what conditions does an oscillating mass tied to a string constitute a simple pendulum?

Is it considered a simple pendulum when the mass is displaced from the suspension point?
Again, I have a hard time understanding the question. What's an "oscillating mass"? Do they mean a mass swinging at the end of a string? If the string is massless, it's a simple pendulum.

I'm guessing that they are looking for is under what conditions does this pendulum exhibit simple harmonic motion. Try answering that one.

3) The period of the variable-g pendulum is T^2 = K(1/geff).
Upon what variables does K depend? (Hint: The moment of inertia is involved.)
I don't know what a "variable-g" pendulum is. In any case, figure out (or look up) the equation for the period of a physical pendulum.
 
  • #3


1) No, a baseball bat suspended from one end would not make a simple pendulum because the string is not considered massless. The definition of a simple pendulum includes a mass tied to a massless string, so the baseball bat would not meet this requirement.

2) An oscillating mass tied to a massless string constitutes a simple pendulum when the amplitude of the swing is small, the mass is concentrated at a single point, and the string is considered massless.

3) The variable-g pendulum equation, T^2 = K(1/geff), depends on several variables such as the length of the pendulum, the mass of the object, and the acceleration due to gravity. The value of K in the equation also depends on the moment of inertia of the pendulum, which is a measure of the object's resistance to rotational motion. Therefore, the variables that K depends on are the length, mass, acceleration due to gravity, and moment of inertia of the pendulum.
 

What is a simple pendulum?

A simple pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot point that is free to swing back and forth.

What factors affect the period of a simple pendulum?

The period of a simple pendulum is affected by its length, the amount of mass on the end of the pendulum, and the strength of gravity.

How do you calculate the period of a simple pendulum?

The period of a simple pendulum can be calculated using the equation T = 2π√(l/g), where T is the period, l is the length of the pendulum, and g is the gravitational acceleration.

What is the relationship between the length of a simple pendulum and its period?

The length of a simple pendulum and its period have an inverse relationship. This means that as the length increases, the period decreases, and vice versa.

What is the difference between a simple pendulum and a compound pendulum?

A simple pendulum has a single weight suspended from a pivot point, while a compound pendulum has multiple weights and a more complex design. The period of a compound pendulum is also affected by its moment of inertia, unlike a simple pendulum.

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