Effect of Gravity on a Simple Pendulum

time (seconds)

0

length (meters)

1.5

gravity (m/

2

s

)

9.81

mass (kg)

5

gravity presets

Earth

The period of a simple pendulum depends on its length

L

and the local gravity

g

; at small angles, the period is given by

2π

L

g

.

This Demonstration shows how the period of a simple pendulum varies with its length and the acceleration due to gravity but independent of mass. Use the popup menu to choose preset values of gravity on different celestial bodies. Or use the sliders to vary length, gravity and mass separately.

The figure on the left displays the simple pendulum, while the figure on the right plots the position of the pendulum as a function of time. The maximum angle from the vertical is fixed at

π

6

radians.