Modelling the horizontal motion of a pendulum using a periodic wave function.
The Pendulum Wave
Q1
What do the x- and y-axis represent in this sketch?
The x-axis represents time and the y-axis represents the horizontal distance between the end of the pendulum and the fixed point that's holding the cord that the pendulum is attached to.
Q2
Describe how a swinging pendulum shows how circular motion and wave motion are related.
Q3
How does this graph correspond to your experience of swinging on a swing set? When you are swinging, when are you moving the fastest, and when are you moving the slowest? How do these fast and slow speeds show up on the graph?
Q4
What did you already know about pendulums and wave (or periodic) functions before doing this activity? What did you learn about these things from doing the activity?