A SIMPLE PENDULUM
This Java applet demonstrates the variation of elongation, velocity, tangential acceleration, force and energy during the oscillation of a pendulum (assumed with no friction).

Note:The "Reset" button brings the body of pendulum to its initial position. You can start or stop and continue the simulation with the other two buttons. If you choose the option "Slow motion", the movement will be ten times slower. The length of the pendulum, the gravitational acceleration, the mass and the amplitude of the oscillation can be changed within certain limits. In order to select another physical size you have to click on the appropriate one of the five radio buttons.

Can we not design an activity for participants based on the applet??
For example, to find and test the equation of the function. For the initial distance function I find y = 0,873cos(1,4t) - it required several trial and improvements, but I learned much about amplitude and period in the process! Of course, I used the graphing calculator to illustrate and check my efforts. But, of course, we can also ue a tool like the Excel worksheets on y = acos(bx+d) to check our efforts ... (we can easily make one in radians!)
Or we can use our onsite graphing applet.
Then change the amplitude ...
And do it for velocity ...

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