Pendulums: Simple Harmonic Motion in Action

A pendulum swings back and forth in a regular rhythm called simple harmonic motion.
Its motion is driven by the pull of gravity and the restoring force that brings it back to center.
The time for one full swing is called the period.
Surprisingly, the period does not depend on the pendulum’s mass—only its length and gravity.
Longer pendulums swing more slowly, while shorter ones swing faster.
The swing’s amplitude (how far it’s pulled back) barely changes the period if the angle is small.
Pendulums were the heart of old grandfather clocks, keeping remarkably accurate time.
Galileo was the first to study their steady rhythm, inspiring advances in timekeeping.
Energy shifts between potential energy at the top and kinetic energy at the bottom of each swing.
From playground swings to scientific tools, pendulums show the beauty of nature’s built-in rhythm.