Physics 312 Lecture: "Pendula and Simple Harmonic Motion" Mar 31, 1998

• A simple or ideal pendulum has a point-mass bob and massless string
• For small angles (less than 15 degrees), the restoring force is proportional to the displacement from rest
• So pendula exhibit simple harmonic motion iff they are displaced slightly from the vertical
• The period of an ideal pendulum depends only on its length and the local acceleration due to gravity
• A more realistic model is the physical pendulum, consisting of a string with mass and an extended bob
• The physical pendulum's period depends on its moment of inertia, its mass, the distance from the pivot to its center of mass, and the local acceleration due to gravity

This lecture discusses material in Chapter 13 of Serway.

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