Interactive experiment 07
When does a pendulum stop being “simple”?
Change one variable at a time, compare the small-angle prediction with a nonlinear simulation, and collect evidence for how length, gravity, amplitude, and damping shape the motion.
RUNNING · 1×
Simulation time0.00 ssince restart
Live angle28.0°released
Measured period—full oscillation
Total energy—potential + kinetic
Angle vs. time
The dashed curve is the small-angle model. The solid curve uses the nonlinear equation sin(θ).
nonlinear simulationsmall-angle theory
Small-angle period—
Large-angle estimate—
Current difference—
At small amplitudes, sin(θ) ≈ θ and both curves nearly overlap.
Experiment notebook
Record a completed oscillation, then change one variable and compare.
| Trial | L (m) | g (m/s²) | θ₀ | b | Theory T | Measured T | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No trials recorded yet. | |||||||