Welcome to My Pendulum!
Discover the mesmerizing world of pendulums! This interactive web app is your personal playground for exploring classic physics demonstrations like the **single pendulum** and the iconic **Newton's Cradle**. It's designed to be both fun and educational, offering a calming visual experience perfect for relaxation, focus, or simply satisfying your curiosity.
Watch energy transfer and momentum conservation in action, experiment with different looks, and enjoy the simple elegance of pendulum motion. Ready to start swinging?
What is a Pendulum?
A pendulum, in its simplest form, is a weight (called a bob) suspended from a fixed point so that it can swing freely under the influence of gravity. From ancient timekeeping devices to modern physics experiments, pendulums demonstrate fundamental principles in a clear and captivating way.
This app lets you explore two common types: the basic **single pendulum** and the multi-bob **Newton's Cradle**.
Core Physics Principles
While playing with the simulations, you're seeing key physics concepts at work:
- Gravity: The force pulling the pendulum bob downwards, causing it to swing back towards its lowest point.
- Energy Conservation: Energy changes form (potential energy at the top of the swing, kinetic energy at the bottom) but the total amount stays *nearly* constant in an ideal system.
- Momentum Conservation: In collisions, like those in the Newton's Cradle, the total momentum (a measure of mass in motion) before the impact is equal to the total momentum after.
- Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM): The regular, repeating pattern of a simple pendulum's swing (for small angles).
Explore the dedicated pages for each pendulum type (using the tabs above) for more specific details!
Relaxation & Focus Benefits
The steady, predictable rhythm of a pendulum can be surprisingly soothing. Watching the motion can be a simple form of mindfulness, helping to calm a busy mind. Try using it as a visual anchor during short breaks to reset your focus, or sync your breathing with the swing for a calming exercise.
Single Pendulum
How the Single Pendulum Works
A single pendulum is a weight (the "bob") suspended from a pivot point by a string or rod. When pulled aside and released, gravity causes it to swing back and forth. For small angles, this back-and-forth motion is very regular and is called **Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)**.
The time it takes for one complete swing (the period) depends almost entirely on the length of the string and the strength of gravity – surprisingly, the weight of the bob doesn't make much difference for simple swings!
How to Use This Simulation
- Click and drag the bob to pull it aside, then release to start the swing.
- Use the color buttons (Silver, Bronze, Gold, Wood) below the simulation to change how the bob looks.
- Click the Reset button (🔄) to stop the motion and return the bob to its starting point.
- The Mute button (🔊/🔇) currently affects sounds in the Newton's Cradle simulation (no specific sound for single pendulum yet).
Relaxation Tip
Focus on the smooth, predictable back-and-forth motion. Try matching your breathing to the swing: inhale one way, exhale the other.
Newton's Cradle
How the Newton's Cradle Works
This classic **desk toy** beautifully demonstrates two important physics ideas:
- Momentum Transfer: When you lift and drop a ball, it swings down and hits the next one. Its motion energy (momentum) zips through the middle balls, which hardly move. This energy then pushes the ball on the far end outwards. If you lift two balls, two swing out – the amount of motion is conserved! This shows the **conservation of momentum**.
- Energy Transfer: The energy from the falling ball travels through the line. Ideally, no energy is lost in the collisions (**elastic collisions**), but in reality, the clicking sound and tiny friction mean the swinging gradually slows down. Our simulation tries to minimize this loss to keep the motion going via physics settings and an auto-reset if it stops completely. This relates to the **conservation of energy**.
How to Use This Simulation
- Click and drag one or more of the end bobs upwards and release to start the chain reaction.
- Use the color buttons below the simulation to change the appearance of all the bobs.
- Click the Reset button (🔄) to stop the motion and return the cradle to its starting state.
- Use the Mute button (🔊/🔇) to turn the collision sounds on or off.
Relaxation Tip
Focus on the rhythmic click-clack and the visual transfer of energy. It can be a great tool for finding a moment of calm or focus.