How to make a pendulum

How to Make a Pendulum

Pendulums are used in clocks to manage the timely movement of the hands.

By 23rd Feb, 2015 | 02:30 pm

Pendulum

A pendulum is an object which hangs from a stationary point and which swings forwards and backwards under the pull of gravitational force (en.wikipedia.org). Pendulums are used in clocks to manage the timely movement of the hands. Let us learn to make a pendulum in these few simple steps.

Image source: www.highlightskids.com

Things you require

- Long piece of string or thread; make sure the thread is thin

- A small heavy weight object such as an iron nut or small bolt

- Two chairs

- A long stick such as a broomstick or a single wooden plank

Procedure

- Tie the iron nut or bolt to one side of the thread.

- Tie the other end of the thread to the centre of the wooden stick and make sure the thread is hanging at the middle of the stick.

- Place the chairs about three feet apart and back to back; the distance depends on the length of the stick. Then place the stick on the chairs maintaining the thread at the centre, equidistant from the chairs.

- You now have a pendulum. Give it a slight push to make it swing.

What to Examine

A clock pendulum makes 60 beats. Count the number of strikes your pendulum makes in a minute. Also notice how the swing gets shorter and the speed decreases in every beat. You can examine how different lengths of strings change the count of beats.

Tejal Mistry