Simple Pendulum - Effect of Initial Angle

This simulation is used to look at the motion of a simple pendulum and to explore the effect the pendulum's initial angle has on its period.

Clicking "Go" makes the pendulum swing back and forth from the initial angle set in the input text box. The pendulum "string" is rigid (but very light). This means you can start with initial angles greater than 90°. The pendulum has a fixed length of 1.00 m. The gravity value used is 9.81 m s^-2.

Vertical and horizontal bars are drawn to show the y and x components of the pendulum bob's position as it swings. You can click the "Show v and a vectors" check boxes to display the bob's velocity and acceleration as it swings. In addition to a graph of horizontal displacement, x, against time, graphs of vertical displacement, y, and angular displacement, θ, can be displayed against time.

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