Explore the Pendulum Lab Simulator
Explore period, gravity and energy with a swinging pendulum. Free, no signup, runs in your browser.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
The Pendulum Lab Simulator with sample data entered and the result showing.
What is the Pendulum Lab Simulator?
Explore period, gravity and energy with a swinging pendulum. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.
Pendulums keep time in clocks, measure gravity in geology, and describe how playground swings, wrecking balls and bridge cables sway. Seismometers and metronomes use the same maths.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
For small angles the period is T = 2π√(L/g). It does not depend on mass.
Kinetic and potential energy trade off while the total stays constant (without damping).
Longer pendulums swing slower; stronger gravity makes them swing faster.
Change the length and read the period.
Drag the bob to 80° and compare the measured and formula periods.
Turn damping up and watch the energy fade.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Physics learners
Physics students in middle school, high school and first-year university, teachers who want a quick demonstration for the projector, and anyone revising for exams.
Try it freeTeachers
For teachers: project the Pendulum Lab Simulator on the board, let students predict the result, then run it together and test this: Drag the bob to 80° and compare the measured and formula periods. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This simulation | Textbook diagram | |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive | Drag, tap and change settings | Fixed picture |
| Install | Nothing to install | Not needed |
| Cost | Free to use | Depends on the book |
Questions people ask
Does the mass of a pendulum change its period?
No. In the ideal pendulum the period depends only on length and gravity. Try changing the mass slider and watch the period stay the same.
Why does the period change at large angles?
The T = 2π√(L/g) formula assumes small angles. At large angles the real period is longer, and this simulator uses the full pendulum equation so you can see it.
Is the Pendulum Lab Simulator free to use?
Yes. The Pendulum Lab Simulator is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Physics group of AZRS simulations.
Does the Pendulum Lab Simulator work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The Pendulum Lab Simulator takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 9 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.
How do I use the Pendulum Lab Simulator?
1. In the Pendulum Lab Simulator, use the controls to change Pendulum 1 length, Pendulum 1 mass, Pendulum 2 length, Pendulum 2 mass, Gravity, and more. The simulation reacts instantly. 2. In the Pendulum Lab Simulator, pick an option such as Moon, Earth, Jupiter, Planet X to switch modes or load an example. 3. In the Pendulum Lab Simulator, press "Same starting angle", "Reset" to start, reset or change what is happening. 4. Start with this experiment: Change the length and read the period. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Pendulum Lab Simulator responds in real time. 5. Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: For small angles the period is T = 2π√(L/g). It does not depend on mass.
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Try the Pendulum Lab Simulator now
Explore period, gravity and energy with a swinging pendulum. Free to use.
Try it free