Pendulum Motion 3D Lab

Simple pendulumPress Start to release the bob and observe periodic motion.

Pendulum bob

Click the bob to track its motion

Drag to pan · wheel to zoom · tap the bob to track it

Choose an experiment

Observe how gravity continuously redirects the bob toward the lowest point.

Run the simulation

Simulation speed1×

Change the pendulum

Length1.00 m

Bob mass1.00 kg

Gravity9.81 m/s²

Release angle30°

Damping0.00

Live measurements

Paused

30.0°Angle

0.00 rad/sAngular velocity

2.01 sMeasured period

1.31 JTotal energy

At the endpoint, speed is zero and gravitational potential energy is maximum.

Visual evidence

Force vectors Motion trail Angle arc Energy bars

Angle and energy over time

anglekinetic energypotential energy

View and tracking

Teacher demo tools

Drive strength0.00

Drive frequency0.50 Hz

Interactive teacher lecture

Ready · 11 steps

Every chapter changes and highlights the pendulum while the teacher explains it.

Language

Voice source

Teacher voice

Hook: What controls the swing?0%

A five-second silent observation begins before the teacher speaks.

Ready. Nothing starts automatically.

Teacher is saying

Choose a language and start the lecture.

Lesson chapters

Learning objectives

Explain why a pendulum oscillates about equilibrium.
Predict how length and gravity affect period.
Show why mass does not affect the ideal period.
Track energy conversion and damping.
Recognize when the small-angle model becomes inaccurate.

Key concepts

Gravity supplies the tangential restoring component.
For small angles, period is approximately 2π times the square root of length divided by gravity.
Potential energy is greatest at endpoints; kinetic energy is greatest at the bottom.
Damping removes mechanical energy and reduces amplitude.
A drive near the natural frequency can produce resonance.

Suggested experiments

Double length and compare the measured period.
Increase mass without changing length or angle.
Compare Earth, Moon, and Jupiter gravity.
Add damping and follow the shrinking energy graph.
Compare 10 degrees with 80 degrees to test the small-angle approximation.

Check your understanding

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