Pendulum Lab

Pendulum Lab Screenshot
  • Periodic Motion
  • Simple Harmonic Motion
  • Conservation of Energy
Flash Logo Original Sim and Translations

Topics

  • Periodic Motion
  • Simple Harmonic Motion
  • Conservation of Energy
  • Period
  • Pendulum

Description

Play with one or two pendulums and discover how the period of a simple pendulum depends on the length of the string, the mass of the pendulum bob, the strength of gravity, and the amplitude of the swing. Observe the energy in the system in real-time, and vary the amount of friction. Measure the period using the stopwatch or period timer. Use the pendulum to find the value of g on Planet X. Notice the anharmonic behavior at large amplitude.

Sample Learning Goals

  • Design experiments to determine which variables affect the period of a pendulum
  • Quantitatively describe how the period of a pendulum depends on these variables
  • Explain the small-angle approximation, and define what constitutes a “small” angle
  • Determine the gravitational acceleration of Planet X
  • Explain the conservation of mechanical energy, using kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy
  • Describe the Energy Graph from the position and speed of the pendulum
Version 1.0.15

Teacher Tips

Download teacher tips PDF Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ).

Teacher-Submitted Activities

Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
UG-Intro
MC Physics
Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
UG-Intro
HW
Lab
Demo
Physics
Pendulum Basics Inquiry A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein MS Lab Physics
Pendulum Lab 2: Find g (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
UG-Intro
HW Physics
Mathematics
Pendulum Lab 1: intro to pendulums (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
UG-Intro
Lab
HW
Physics
Mathematics
Swinging Physics Using Pendulum Phet A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. John Lewis and Michi Ishimoto HS
UG-Intro
Discuss
Lab
Physics
Pendulum investigation for Middle School A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Jefferson County Middle School Workshop MS Lab Mathematics
Physics
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López MS
HS
Other Biology
Earth Science
Physics
Chemistry
Period of Pendulum Suchitra CHEPIN UG-Intro
HS
Lab Physics
Simple Pendulum Ferdinand Bautista MS
HS
Lab
Guided
Physics
Simple Harmonic Motion (Pendulum & Spring) Nawal Nayfeh HS
UG-Intro
Remote
Lab
Physics
CONFRONTACIÓN ENTRE LA SIMULACIÓN Y LA SITUACIÓN REAL DE UN PÉNDULO SIMPLE HERNANDO JAVIER CASTILLO SIMANCA MS Lab Physics
Simple Harmonic Motion Virtual Modeling Lab PhET Julie Farhm HS Remote
Lab
Physics
Investigating time period of a simple pendulum Arooj Mukarram HS
UG-Intro
Lab Physics
Determination of Value of Universal Gravitational Constant Dr Akhlaq Ahmad K-5
Grad
MS
UG-Intro
HS
UG-Adv
Discuss
Guided
HW
Lab
Mathematics
Physics
Time Period is Independent of Amplitude and Mass of the Pendulum Dr Akhlaq Ahmad HS
MS
UG-Intro
HW
Lab
Physics
Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics Jaya Ramchandani HS Other Physics
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment Elyse Zimmer MS
HS
Other Biology
Chemistry
Physics
KE and PE using the Pendulum Lab Judith Coburn MS
HS
Lab Physics
PhET Simulations Aligned for AP Physics C Roberta Tanner HS Other Physics
Qualitative Introduction to Energy Steve Banasiak HS
MS
Lab Physics
KE and PE with the pendulum, Student Don Loving HS
UG-Intro
MS
Guided
Lab
Physics
Pendulum Lab Bunyamin Purkaya MS Lab Physics
Introducción a la Física: medidas, unidades y relación entre variables A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López UG-Intro
HS
Guided
Remote
Lab
HW
Physics
SECUNDARIA: Alineación PhET con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López MS
HS
Other Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López HS
UG-Intro
Other Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
PRIMARIA: Alineación con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López K-5
MS
Guided
Discuss
Demo
Lab
HW
Astronomy
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Matematičko njihalo Anica Antolek Hrgar HS Guided Physics
Mecânica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales UG-Intro
Other
MS
HS
Grad
Other
Lab
Discuss
Demo
Guided
HW
Other
Physics
Earth Science
Energia Mecânica (MHS) no Pendulum Lab (HTML5) Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales MS
HS
Other
Guided
HW
Other
Physics
Other
Earth Science
Mathematics
MHS para pêndulos e sistemas massa-mola Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales Other
HS
Other
HW
Guided
Earth Science
Physics
Mathematics
Cálculo da aceleração da gravidade (g) utilizando o pêndulo simples Rodrigo Nogueira HS
Grad
Demo
HW
Discuss
Guided
Lab
Physics
Earth Science
Movimiento Armonico Simple: El pendulo y el resorte (Simple Harmonic Motion:pendulum and spring Carmen Maldonado UG-Intro
HS
Lab
Remote
HW
Guided
Demo
Physics
PERIODO EN UN PÉNDULO FRANCISCO CRUZ CANTU HS Lab
Demo
HW
Guided
Physics
Pendulo Simple Uriel De Jesus Argel casarrubia UG-Intro
MS
Guided
HW
Lab
Physics
Longitud de un péndulo y su periodo. Denis Salazar UG-Intro
HS
MS
Lab
HW
Demo
Guided
Mathematics
Physics

Language Download or Run Tips
Albanian All shqip Run now Laboratori i Lavjerrësit
Arabic All العربية Run now معمل البندول
Azerbaijani All Azerbaijani Run now Rəqqas labaratoriyası
Basque All Euskara Run now Pendulu-laborategia
Belarusian All беларускі Run now Лабараторыя маятнікаў
Bosnian All Bosanski Run now Matematičko klatno
Bulgarian All български Run now Махало
Chinese (Simplified) All 中文 (中国) Run now 钟摆实验
Chinese (Traditional) All 中文 (台灣) Run now Pendulum Lab_鐘擺實驗室
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Czech All čeština Run now Laboratoř a kyvadlo
Danish All Dansk Run now Pendul-laboratorium
Dutch All Nederlands Run now Slinger lab
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Norwegian Bokmal All Norsk bokmål Run now Pendellaboratorium
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Persian All فارسی Run now آزمایشگاه آونگ
Polish All polski Run now Wahadło matematyczne
Portuguese (Brazil) All português (Brasil) Run now Laboratório do Pêndulo Download teacher tips PDF
Russian All русский Run now Математический маятник
Serbian All Српски Run now Математичко клатно
Slovak All Slovenčina Run now Kyvadlo
Slovenian All Slovenščina Run now Nitno nihalo
Spanish All español Run now Lab de Péndulo Download teacher tips PDF
Spanish (Mexico) All español (México) Run now Lab de Péndulo  Download teacher tips PDF
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Swedish All svenska Run now Pendellabb
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Ukrainian All українська Run now Лабораторія маятників Download teacher tips PDF
Urdu All Urdu Run now پینڈلم تجربہگاہ (Pendulum Lab)
Vietnamese All Tiếng Việt Run now Con lắc
Welsh All Welsh Run now Labordy Pendil

HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.

iPad:
iOS 12+ Safari
iPad compatible sims

Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.

Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims

Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.

Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.9.5+, Safari 9+, latest version of Chrome.

Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Jonathon Olson (developer)
  • Amy Rouinfar (lead designer)
  • Michael Dubson (original designer)
  • Trish Loeblein
  • Ariel Paul
  • Kathy Perkins
  • almond-0.2.9.js
  • base64-js-1.2.0.js
  • FileSaver-b8054a2.js
  • font-awesome-4.5.0
  • game-up-camera-1.0.0.js
  • himalaya-0.2.7.js
  • jama-1.0.2
  • jquery-2.1.0.js
  • lodash-4.17.4.js
  • pegjs-0.7.0.js
  • seedrandom-2.4.2.js
  • text-2.0.12.js
  • TextEncoderLite-3c9f6f0.js
  • Mobile Learner Labs