A pendulum has simple harmonic motion provided that
A) its bob is not too heavy.
B) the supporting string is not too long.
C) the arc through which it swings is not too small.
D) the arc through which it swings is not too large.
E) the supporting string is not too short.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D because a pendulum will have simple harmonic motion if the arc through which it swings is not too large. If the arc is too small, the motion will be too quick and not have enough time to follow a smooth, repeating motion. If the arc is too large, there will be too much energy loss due to air resistance and friction, causing the motion to become irregular. The weight of the bob and the length of the supporting string do not affect whether or not the pendulum has simple harmonic motion.

A Pendulum Has Simple Harmonic Motion Provided That