Lesson: The Period of a Pendulum Physics • 9th Grade

In this lesson, we will learn how to calculate the period and frequency of a pendulum given its length and the local acceleration due to gravity.

Lesson Plan

Students will be able to

use to find the period of a pendulum,
use to find the frequency of a pendulum,
realize that the period of a pendulum is only dependent on its length and the local acceleration due to gravity,
realize that the period of a pendulum is independent of the mass of the pendulum.

Lesson Video

Lesson Playlist

03:33
04:09

Lesson Worksheet

Q1:

A pendulum has a period of 4.81 s. What is the frequency of the pendulum? Give your answer to two decimal places.

Q2:

A pendulum has a length of 0.900 m. What is the frequency of the pendulum? Use a value of 9.81 m/s² for the local acceleration due to gravity. Give your answer to three decimal places.

Q3:

A pendulum has a frequency of 4.1 Hz. What is the period of the pendulum? Give your answer to two decimal places.