/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 49 Derive the period of a simple pe... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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Derive the period of a simple pendulum by considering the horizontal displacement \(x\) and the force acting on the bob, rather than the angular displacement and torque.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The period of a simple pendulum is given by \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}\).

Step by step solution

01

Identify the parameters involved

To start, we need to identify the parameters involved. A simple pendulum consists of a mass \(m\) (the pendulum's bob) attached to a lightweight cord of length \(L\), which swings back and forth under the influence of gravity. The displacement \(x\) at any time \(t\) can be expressed as \(x = L sin(\theta)\), where \(\theta\) is the angular displacement.
02

Write down the force acting on the bob

The force acting on the bob is the component of the gravitational force in the direction of motion. Therefore, it is given by \(F = -mg sin(\theta)\). Using the small-angle approximation \(sin(\theta) \approx \theta\), when the pendulum is at small displacements, this becomes \(F = -mg \frac{x}{L}\).
03

Apply Newton's Second Law of motion

Newton’s Second Law states that the force applied to an object equals its mass times acceleration \(F = ma\). In our case, the acceleration is the second derivative of displacement \(x\) with respect to time \(t\). Hence, we have an equation \(-mg \frac{x}{L} = m \frac{d^2x}{dt^2}\). The mass \(m\) cancels out.
04

Solve the differential equation

Now we have to solve the ordinary differential equation. Rearranging gives \(\frac{d^2x}{dt^2} + g\frac{x}{L} = 0\). This is a simple harmonic motion equation with a general solution of \(x(t) = A cos(\omega t + \phi)\), where \(A\) and \(\phi\) are determined by initial conditions, and \(\omega = \sqrt{g/L}\) is the angular frequency.
05

Compute the period of the pendulum

The period \(T\) of the pendulum is the time it takes for one complete cycle, which is \(\frac{2\pi}{\omega}\). Thus, \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}\). This is the same result obtained when using the angular displacement and torque. It confirms the physical law: the period of a simple pendulum depends only on its length and the acceleration due to gravity.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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