Physics (AS & A Level) · May / June 2022 · Paper 41 · Question 4

A pendulum consists of a bob (small metal sphere) attached to the end of a piece of string. The other end of the string is attached to a fixed point. The bob oscillates with small oscillations about its equilibrium position, as shown in Fig. 4.1. L x string bob oscillations equilibrium position Fig. 4.1 (not to scale) The length L of the pendulum, measured from the fixed point to the centre of the bob, is 1.24 m. The acceleration a of the bob varies with its displacement x from the equilibrium position as shown in Fig. 4.2. –0.4 –0.2 0.2 0 0 –0.02 0.02 0.04 0.06 x / m a / m s–2 –0.04 –0.06 0.4 Fig. 4.2

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