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Answers to Readers' Questions on Physical Science:

Pendulum Equations

The following 2 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.

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• Does the altitude of a pendulum affect its frequency?
• Difference between swinging in different fluids

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Does the altitude of a pendulum affect its frequency?

Question

May 20, 2009

Does the altitude of a pendulum affect it's frequency?

Pat - Canada

17771

Answer

If you mean the angle or height the bob is puller before letting go, it has little or no effect on the frequency.

If you mean that the pendulum is at a higher elevation, then the force of gravity would be slightly less and the air resistance would be slightly less. This would affect the frequency a small amount.

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Difference between swinging in different fluids

Question

August 22, 2008

The question is about the pendulum:
1-what a different between swinging in the air, water, and oil?.
2- Could u show me the graph about swinging in the air, water and oil.
3- what another device can pulse rate?

Nor - Malaysia

16387

Answer

Each material provides resistance against the motion of the pendulum and slows it down. The viscosity of the material determines its resistance. Air has little resistance, but water has much more and oil has even more than water.

A pendulum in air will go back and forth many times before it slows down. But in water, the pendulum bob may go back and forth only a few times. In oil, it may barely go over one swing.

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