Question

An astronaut lands on an alien planet. He places a pendulum (L = 0.200 m) on the surface and sets it in simple harmonic motion, as shown on the graph attached inside.

Part 1: What is the period and frequency of the pendulum’s motion?
Part 2: How many seconds out of phase with the displacements shown would graphs of the velocity and acceleration be?
Part 3: What is the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the planet in m/s2? Determine the number of g-forces.

***How do I solve and show the calculations for these? thank you!! :)

Answer 1

The screenshot is not that of a simple harmonic motion.
I am not sure what is expected here.

Answer 2

Ohh I'm not sure then since it's what is given :( What would you suggest to be the best way to go about solving this? Like is it possible to calculate what the problems are asking even though the graph isn't simple harmonic motion? :/

Answer 3

You can use the graph to figure out the frequency, look at how many cycles/s.

Answer 4

Using that information you can find the period

Answer 5

ahh okay, so there are 9 cycles?

Answer 6

That's in 5 seconds, look at how many in 1 second for the frequency.

Answer 7

ohh like 1 and 3/4 of a cycle per second?

Answer 8

But like Vincent said this is not simple harmonic motion

Answer 9

yeah I'm not sure :(

it's what my teacher put in our review packet:/ but how can i calculate the period? i forget how to calculate that:(

Answer 10

It's not periodic but the formula is \[T = \frac{ 1 }{ f }\]

Answer 11

I think you should ask your teacher about this question, it doesn't make much sense.

Answer 12

ohh so i would calculate it like 1/1.75=0.57 ? and that would be the period in this case?

Answer 13

Yes

Answer 14

ah okay, will do, and thank you! :) so there's no way to calculate parts 2 and 3 with the information given from the graph?

Answer 15

Well it wouldn't make much sense

Answer 16

So ask your teacher before you go any further

Answer 17

okay, thank you:))