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)None of these is correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Simple harmonic motion is a type of motion where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from equilibrium and is always directed towards the equilibrium position. The pendulum follows this type of motion when it swings through a small arc. If the arc is too large, the motion becomes non-linear and the restoring force is no longer directly proportional to the displacement, which means it is no longer simple harmonic motion. Therefore, choice D (the arc through which it swings is not too large) is the best choice.

A Pendulum Has Simple Harmonic Motion Provided That