Pendulum Definition
A pendulum is a weight on a string that hangs from a single point. It swings and creates a pattern of motion.
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Patterns of Motion & Friction
Fun Facts
- If the lengths of pendulum strings is the same, it is predicted that they would swing with the same pattern of motion.
- Longer pendulum strings swing more slowly.
- Pendulums swing in the same pattern until friction stops them.
Why Do We Need To Know About Pendulum
Learning about how pendulums swing helps us understand how things move. This is important for people who work in engineering and physics. For example, knowing how pendulums move helps in designing and testing things that move, because it helps predict how they will behave.
This is used in many areas like sports, flying planes, making cars safer, and even in video games. For instance, understanding how slowing down a pendulum’s swing can help make better car tires or fun air hockey tables shows how these ideas are used in real life and different jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out the Full Lesson on Patterns of Motion & Friction
In this lesson, we learn that:
- A pattern of motion is the repeated process of an object moving.
- Patterns of motion can be used to make predictions.
- When one surface rubs against another we get friction.
- Friction slows things down.
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