Oscillations
Beginner
Simple harmonic oscillation
Source: Principles of Physics
Problem
Two pendula begin to swing simultaneously. During the first fifteen oscillations of the first pendulum the other pendulum makes only ten swings.
Determine the ratio between the lengths of these pendula.
$L_1/L_2 = 4/9$
Let the periods of the two pendula be $T_1$ and $T_2$, and their lengths be $L_1$ and $L_2$. The number of oscillations are $n_1=15$ and $n_2=10$. The total time elapsed $\Delta t$ is the same for both pendula.
$$ \Delta t = n_1 T_1 = n_2 T_2 $$From this, we find the ratio of their periods:
$$ 15 T_1 = 10 T_2 \implies \frac{T_1}{T_2} = \frac{10}{15} = \frac{2}{3} $$The period of a simple pendulum is given by $T = 2\pi\sqrt{L/g}$. The ratio of periods is related to the ratio of lengths:
$$ \frac{T_1}{T_2} = \frac{2\pi\sqrt{L_1/g}}{2\pi\sqrt{L_2/g}} = \sqrt{\frac{L_1}{L_2}} $$Equating the two expressions for the ratio of periods:
$$ \sqrt{\frac{L_1}{L_2}} = \frac{2}{3} $$ $$ \frac{L_1}{L_2} = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^2 = \frac{4}{9} $$