Physics I / Oscillations and Simple Harmonic Motion
Practice question · Multiple choice

A pendulum’s period is independent of its amplitude for small swings but not for large ones. Why does amplitude-independence fail at large angles?

Hints
  1. Compare sinθ\sin\theta with θ\theta at 5° and at 60°.
  2. What does SHM require of the restoring force?
Show the answer

B. The approximation that sinθθ\sin\theta \approx \theta

Why

SHM is defined by a restoring force proportional to displacement. The pendulum only approximates that condition, and amplitude-independence is a property of the approximation rather than of the pendulum.

Read the lesson: Oscillations and Simple Harmonic Motion →

Practise Oscillations and Simple Harmonic Motion

The app has 10 more questions on this lesson, and keeps your place in the course. Physics I is free to start.

More questions on Oscillations and Simple Harmonic Motion