Types of Pendulum

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T Ty yp pe es s o of f P Pe en nd du ul lu um m
THE SIMPLE PENDULUM
L r
If a great point-mass is removed by a

weightless, inextensible and perfectly
flexible string from a rigid support,
then this arrangement is called a
simple pendulum.
A simple pendulum consists of a heavy metallic bob suspended by an inextensible light thread. The
distance from the point of support to the centre of the bob is the size L, of the pendulum. To set
the pendulum into vibration or oscillation, the bob is pulled slightly to one side and then left.
Suppose it vibrates from C to B and back to C and so on.
The amplitude, 'a' of a vibration is the distance from the centre position to one of the extreme
positions of the vibrating body. i.e., a = AB or AC
One vibration or oscillation is the complete to and fro motion of the vibrating body, i.e. from C to B
and from B to C or from A to B, B to C and from C to A.
The time period, T of a vibrating body is the time taken for one complete vibration. It is also
referred to as periodic time.
The frequency 'n' of a vibrating body is the number of vibrations it completes in one second. Its
unit is Hertz (Hz) or vibrations/sec
From definition:
1 1
T , or n
n T
= =
The time period T of a simple pendulum is given by,
2
2
L L
T 2 g 4
g T
= t = t
Where L is the size of the pendulum and g is acceleration due to gravity.
The time period T, therefore:
(i) Does not depend on the mass of the bob if L and g are constant.
(ii) Increases if the length of the pendulum increases i.e. T L or
2
1 1
2
2 2
T L
L T
= .
(iii) Decreases if the acceleration due to gravity increases:
2
1 2
2
1 2
T g 1
T i.e.
g T
g
=
(iv) Remains the same provided the amplitude is small.
A second's pendulum is one which swings from one end to other in 1 second i.e. its time period is 2
s. Thus using the expression:
2
2
L 4 L
T 2 , T
g g
t
= t =
But
2
T 2s, T 4s = =
2
2
4 L g
4 or L
g
t
= =
t
length of a second pendulum approximately.
,
2
L 99.2 cm g 9.8 m/ s = =
Thus a pendulum about 1 m long will have a time period of 2 s.
Drawbacks of a simple pendulum: Although one of the simplest methods for determines the value of
g at a place a simple pendulum suffers from a number of limitations, the more important of which are
the following:
(i) It is just an ideal conception, not realizable in actual practice, since it is not possible to have both a
point-mass and a weightless string.
(ii) The resistance and the buoyance of the appreciably affect the motion of the bob.
(iii) The expression for the time-period (T = 2t l / g ) is true only for oscillations of infinitely small
amplitude.
(iv) The motion of the bob is not strictly simple. It has also a rotational motion about the axis of
suspension.
(v) The bob also has a rotational motion with respect to the string at the extremities of its amplitude
on either side.
Experiment: In order to determine the periodic time of a pendulum, the time for at least twenty
oscillations should be taken. The accuracy increases for more oscillations. Hence T, the time for
one oscillation can be calculated. If the length is increased, T also increases.
Students should calculate the periods for at least five different
lengths and plot the graph between L and T
2
. It will come out to be a
straight line showing that
2
T L or T L . The length of the
pendulum is to be taken from the point of suspension to the centre
of bob. The diameter and hence the radius (r) of the bob can be
calculated by a bow calipers. This should be added to the length of
the string ( ). Moreover the acceleration due to gravity can be
calculated using the expression
2
2
L
g 4
T
= t
2
4
tan
g
COMPOUND PENDULUM
When a hard object is suspended from an axis and made to oscillate about that,
then it is called compound pendulum.
C = Initial position of center of mass
C' = Position of origin of mass after time t
S = Point of suspension
C
C
S
= Displacement between point of suspension and center of mass (it remains constant during motion)
T 2
mg
I
= t
2
CM
m I = I +
Where
CM
I = moment of inertia relative to the axis which passes from the center of mass & parallel
to the axis of oscillation.
2
CM
m
T 2
mg
I +
= t

Where
2
CM
mk I = ; k = gyration radius (axis passes from centre of mass)
2 2
mk m
T 2
mg
+
= t

;
2 2
eq
L
k
T 2 2
g g
+
= t = t
2
eq
k
L = +
= equivalent length of simple pendulum; T is minimum when k. =

TORSIONAL PENDULUM
Consider a body, such as a road or a disc, removed at the end of a wire, as given in the diagram.
Fig. Torsional Pendulum
When the end of the wire is twisted by an angle k t = 0
where k is known as the torsional constant.
Using Newton's law,
2
2
d
k
dt
0
I = 0 or
2
2
d k
0
dt
0
I + 0 =
I
Thus, the angular frequency and the time period of oscillation are shown by,
k
e =
I
and
T 2
k
I
= t
PHYSICAL PENDULUM
Any rigid body suspended from a fixed support constitutes a physical pendulum. Consider the
situation when the body is displaced through a small angle
by
mg sin t = 0 (i)
where = distance between point of suspension and centre of mass of the body.
If I be the M.I. of the body about O, then, t = Io (ii)
From (i) and (ii), we get,
2
2
d
mg sin
dt
0
I = 0 as
2
2
d
dt
0
are oppositely
directed.
2
2
d mg
dt
0
= 0
I

since
Comparing with the equation
2
2
2
d
dt
0
= e 0 , we get
O
C
0
-
-
-
mg
mg
e =
I

T 2
mg
I
= t

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What are the different types of pendulums discussed?

What factors affect the time period of a simple pendulum?

Physics Assignment Help | Types of Pendulum|www.expertsmind.

If a great point-mass is removed by a

= equivalent length of simple pendulum; T is minimum when k. =

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