I keep getting “Time period of a pendulum” questions wrong in Oscillations & Waves. What's the trap?
thinking a heavier bob swings with a different period.
The usual trap: thinking a heavier bob swings with a different period. How to avoid it: only length and g change a pendulum's period. Go back to the definition — T = 2π√(L/g) — it depends on length and gravity, not on mass or (small) amplitude.
Key point
Time period of a pendulum
Common mistake
thinking a heavier bob swings with a different period.
Memory tip
only length and g change a pendulum's period.
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