Chapter 25, Problem 57A

Maria shows her friends a simple 31 -cm-long pendulum. Her teacher, looking on, asks if she can predict the period of the pendulum before she demonstrates it. What’s your prediction?

To determine

To Explain: Whether a person can predict the time period of the pendulum before demonstrating it, if length is known.

Answer to Problem 57A

Yes, a person can predict the period, before demonstrating it.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

Person M shows her friends a simple 31 cm long pendulum.

Formula used:

The time period is given as,

  $T=2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}$

L is length and g is acceleration due to gravity

Calculation:

If length is given, then a person can predict the period of the pendulum.

As from the formula, other variables are constants in $T=2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}$

If the value of Lis known, then a person can predict a period before demonstrating it.