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How to Build and Use a Pendulum Download Article Reviewed by Anne Schmidt
Last Updated: February 24, 2025 References
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Making a Simple Pendulum
|
Experimenting with the Pendulum
|
Testing the Physics of a Pendulum
|
Q&A
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. This article has been viewed 200,950 times.
A pendulum is a device that uses gravity to swing a weight back and forth. Because of their consistent and measurable swings, or oscillations as they’re called, pendulums have been used for hundreds of years to keep time. Part of the beauty of a pendulum is its simplicity. With a few supplies, you can build and use your own pendulum to try out different experiments to see how the physics of a pendulum work.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Making a Simple Pendulum
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1 Tape a pencil horizontally to the top of a table. Lay a pencil on its side and use clear tape to firmly fasten it to a tabletop. Leave about 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) of the pencil hanging over the edge. The pencil will anchor your pendulum and keep it from falling down, so be sure to use enough tape to secure it and keep it from moving around.[1]XResearch source
Test the pencil by flicking it with your finger. It should stay stuck to the tabletop.
2 Tie a loop about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter at one end of a string. Take a length of string 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) long and curl one end to form a loop. The loop needs to fit around the pencil, but not too tight or it won’t swing properly. Tie a knot with the loop to keep it from coming undone.[2]XResearch source
Slide the loop onto the pencil and slide it off to make sure it’s not too tight.
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3 Make a small 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) hook with a metal wire. Take a 2 in (5.1 cm) length of metal wire and curl one end of it into a “J” shape to form your hook. The hook will hold the weight that swings the pendulum so shape your hook so it’s easy to attach and remove nuts onto it to alter the weight of the pendulum.[3]XResearch source
You can use pliers to curl the metal wire.
4 Slide a 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) nut onto the end of the hook. Use a standard metallic nut as the weight for your pendulum. The hole in the center makes a nut ideal for sliding onto the hook, and you can easily add or remove nuts to experiment with different weights. Slide the nut onto the hook so that it’s not able to fall or slide off when the pendulum swings.[4]XResearch source
Do not close the hook around the nut.
Tip: Use nuts of the same size and weight so you can experiment with changing the weight to see how it affects the swing of the pendulum.
5 Tape a piece of paper on a wall or table behind the hook. You can use the paper to mark where you release the pendulum each time so you can see the way the pendulum behaves and swings based on where you release it. Tape the paper so that it is a backdrop behind the hook with the nut on it.[5]XResearch source
Any color paper is fine, as long as you can see the pencil markings.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Experimenting with the Pendulum
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1 Pull the hook with the nut on it back about 20 inches (51 cm). Before you release it, use your pencil to mark on the paper taped behind the pendulum where you release it from. That way, you can repeat the experiment by letting the pendulum go from the same place each time.[6]XResearch source
You need to have a consistent release point for accurate results in your experiments!
2 Release the pendulum and start a stopwatch. When you release the pendulum, count the number of oscillations, or the number of times it swings back and forth, for 1 minute. Repeat the process 5 times, releasing the pendulum from the same spot on the paper each time.[7]XResearch source
Let the pendulum fall on its own; don’t swing or push it.
Write down the number of oscillations so you can calculate an average.
3 Calculate the average of the oscillations. Take the number of oscillations from each time you released the pendulum, add them all together, then divide the number by 5. This is the average number of oscillations the pendulum completes from that distance and at that weight.[8]XResearch source
For example: If you release the pendulum 5 times, and the number of oscillations you get are 9, 7, 8, 10, and 7, add up all of the numbers to get 41. Divide 41 by 5 to get 8.2 as an average number of oscillations for that experiment.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Testing the Physics of a Pendulum
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1 Add a nut to the hook to see what difference the mass makes. Add a second nut to the hook and bring the pendulum back to where you marked on the paper the first time. When you release the pendulum, start a stopwatch and count the number of oscillations for 1 minute. Repeat the process 5 times, then calculate your average.
Notice the difference in the number of oscillations and the average between 1 nut on the hook and 2 nuts on the hook.
Add another nut and repeat the experiment to see if even more mass will affect the pendulum’s oscillations.[9]XResearch source
Spolier: Adding weight changes the mass of the pendulum, but mass doesn’t affect the swing rate of a pendulum, so your average number of oscillations should be almost the same, no matter the weight!
2 Change the distance to see how it affects the oscillations. Go back to just 1 nut on the hook, bring the string back about 10 inches (25 cm), and make a mark on the paper taped behind it so you can repeat the experiment from the same distance. Release the pendulum and count the number of oscillations for 1 minute. Repeat the process 5 times and calculate an average.[10]XResearch source
You may be surprised to learn that the distance (also called amplitude) does not affect the swing rate, or number of oscillations.
Try the experiment again from 5 inches (13 cm) and find the average number of oscillations to see how much of a difference the distance makes.
3 Cut off 10 inches (25 cm) of the string to see the effects. Slide the look off of the pencil and cut off 10 inches (25 cm) of string, tie another loop, and put it back on the pencil. Then bring the pendulum back about 10 inches (25 cm) and mark on the paper where you release it from. Repeat the experiment 5 times and find the average number of oscillations to see how the length of the string affects the pendulum.
Cut off another 10 inches (25 cm) of string to see the difference it makes on the average number of oscillations.
The length from which a pendulum is suspended helps determine the speed and regularity of the swings, which is why pendulums have been used to keep time.[11]XResearch source
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Question What's the swinging mass at the end of a pendulum? Donagan Top Answerer It's called a "bob." Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 26
Question What is the type of pendulum used to communicate with ghosts? Is there an article on that? Tivababe77 Community Answer Yes, several. You can search for "Use a Pendulum for Divination," "Use a Pendulum," and "Do a Spirit Guide Communication With a Pendulum" in WikiHow's search bar, or search for pendulums in a normal search engine to bring up results. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 11
Question It says the amplitude does not affect the oscillation. So if we used a string 2 feet in length, it would swing the same amount of times as if the string were 20 feet? Han Community Answer "Amplitude" refers to how far the pendulum was pulled back from its neutral hanging position, not the length of the string. As for why this works, consider two pendulums with the same mass and length. Pull one higher than the other, and release both at the same time. When the highest pendulum reaches the point where the lower pendulum started, it has already picked up a significant velocity, and it will only keep accelerating. This way, it can traverse the remaining distance in less time than the lower pendulum, and it works just right so that they arrive in the neutral position at the same time. This means they both have the same period, and that period is independent of starting position. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 10
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Things You’ll Need
A length of string about 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) long
1 piece of metal wire 2 inches (5.1 cm) long
3-4 nuts 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) in size
1 piece of paper
Pencil
Clear tape
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Reviewed by: Anne Schmidt Chemistry Instructor This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. This article has been viewed 200,950 times. 52 votes - 70% Co-authors: 34Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 200,950 Categories: Physics | Junior Science Experiments In other languages Spanish Italian French Indonesian
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Reviewed by: Anne Schmidt Chemistry Instructor This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. This article has been viewed 200,950 times. 52 votes - 70% Co-authors: 34 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 200,950 Categories: Physics | Junior Science Experiments In other languages Spanish Italian French Indonesian 
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1 Tape a pencil horizontally to the top of a table. Lay a pencil on its side and use clear tape to firmly fasten it to a tabletop. Leave about 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) of the pencil hanging over the edge. The pencil will anchor your pendulum and keep it from falling down, so be sure to use enough tape to secure it and keep it from moving around.[1] 
2 Tie a loop about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter at one end of a string. Take a length of string 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) long and curl one end to form a loop. The loop needs to fit around the pencil, but not too tight or it won’t swing properly. Tie a knot with the loop to keep it from coming undone.[2] 
3 Make a small 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) hook with a metal wire. Take a 2 in (5.1 cm) length of metal wire and curl one end of it into a “J” shape to form your hook. The hook will hold the weight that swings the pendulum so shape your hook so it’s easy to attach and remove nuts onto it to alter the weight of the pendulum.[3] 
4 Slide a 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) nut onto the end of the hook. Use a standard metallic nut as the weight for your pendulum. The hole in the center makes a nut ideal for sliding onto the hook, and you can easily add or remove nuts to experiment with different weights. Slide the nut onto the hook so that it’s not able to fall or slide off when the pendulum swings.[4] 
5 Tape a piece of paper on a wall or table behind the hook. You can use the paper to mark where you release the pendulum each time so you can see the way the pendulum behaves and swings based on where you release it. Tape the paper so that it is a backdrop behind the hook with the nut on it.[5] 
1 Pull the hook with the nut on it back about 20 inches (51 cm). Before you release it, use your pencil to mark on the paper taped behind the pendulum where you release it from. That way, you can repeat the experiment by letting the pendulum go from the same place each time.[6] 
2 Release the pendulum and start a stopwatch. When you release the pendulum, count the number of oscillations, or the number of times it swings back and forth, for 1 minute. Repeat the process 5 times, releasing the pendulum from the same spot on the paper each time.[7] 
3 Calculate the average of the oscillations. Take the number of oscillations from each time you released the pendulum, add them all together, then divide the number by 5. This is the average number of oscillations the pendulum completes from that distance and at that weight.[8] 
1 Add a nut to the hook to see what difference the mass makes. Add a second nut to the hook and bring the pendulum back to where you marked on the paper the first time. When you release the pendulum, start a stopwatch and count the number of oscillations for 1 minute. Repeat the process 5 times, then calculate your average. 
2 Change the distance to see how it affects the oscillations. Go back to just 1 nut on the hook, bring the string back about 10 inches (25 cm), and make a mark on the paper taped behind it so you can repeat the experiment from the same distance. Release the pendulum and count the number of oscillations for 1 minute. Repeat the process 5 times and calculate an average.[10] 
3 Cut off 10 inches (25 cm) of the string to see the effects. Slide the look off of the pencil and cut off 10 inches (25 cm) of string, tie another loop, and put it back on the pencil. Then bring the pendulum back about 10 inches (25 cm) and mark on the paper where you release it from. Repeat the experiment 5 times and find the average number of oscillations to see how the length of the string affects the pendulum. 
Donagan Top Answerer It's called a "bob." Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 26 
Tivababe77 Community Answer Yes, several. You can search for "Use a Pendulum for Divination," "Use a Pendulum," and "Do a Spirit Guide Communication With a Pendulum" in WikiHow's search bar, or search for pendulums in a normal search engine to bring up results. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 11 
Han Community Answer "Amplitude" refers to how far the pendulum was pulled back from its neutral hanging position, not the length of the string. As for why this works, consider two pendulums with the same mass and length. Pull one higher than the other, and release both at the same time. When the highest pendulum reaches the point where the lower pendulum started, it has already picked up a significant velocity, and it will only keep accelerating. This way, it can traverse the remaining distance in less time than the lower pendulum, and it works just right so that they arrive in the neutral position at the same time. This means they both have the same period, and that period is independent of starting position. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 10 
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