Time Period of Pendulum with

springs

Joshua Olowoyeye
215521164

3/18/2023
—
PHYS 2010 Classical Mechanics
—
Prof. Christopher Bergevin
 INSTRUCTIONS

A uniform rod of mass M, length L

swings as a pendulum from the
top end with two horizontal
springs of negligible mass and
constants k1 and k2 acting at the
bottom end, as shown in Fig. 17-3.
Both springs are relaxed when the
rod is vertical. What is the period
T of small oscillations?

Time Period of Pendulum with springs PAGE 2

 G.U.E.S.S. and Check

Givens

For this problem we are given the mass of the rods, mR=M and the
springs mS1=mS2=0. This means that the only mass we will need to
observe is the rod’s. The length of the rod given is L and its center
of mass is in its middle, which means that the center of mass is L/2
away from the top end. The 2 springs can have different spring
constants, k1 and k2 which means that we would need to account
for each springs torques individually. The word “swings” gives us a
strong hint that we should use torque to solve this problem. From
what is given we can deduce that we need to account for 3 distinct
torques. The mass of the rod and 2 springs at the bottom of the rod
will apply torques that oppose the motion of this rod. Below is a
free body diagram that showcases all of this and a list of the given.
Given: L, M, k1 and k2
FBD:

𝑳ൗ
𝟐 L
θ

Center of Mass, M

τr

k1 τS1 τs2 k2

Time Period of Pendulum with springs PAGE 3

Unknowns
We need to find the period of oscillation for the rod, T. With the information
we have so fare we now know that we should find a way to convert the
variables we have for the torques to a time variable.

`
Equations and assumptions
There are several equations that will be useful in solving this problem.
Eq1. τnet= τr+ τs1+ τs2(Superposition)
τnet is the sum of all torques acting on the rod. The gravitational torque
on the rod and the 2 spring torques on the rod.
Eq2. τnet=Iα (Torque in rotational motion)
τnet is also the product of the moment of inertia and the angular
acceleration of the rod.
1
Eq3. τr=(𝑓𝑔 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃)𝑟𝐶𝑀 = − 2 𝑀𝑔𝐿𝑠𝑖𝑛θ rque of a physical pendulum)
The gravitational torque on the rod is the component of gravitational
force that acts tangent to the position of the rod from the center of the
rods mass.
Eq4. τs1=𝑓𝑆 𝑟𝐿 = −𝑘1 𝑥𝐿(Torque of a spring)
The torque applied by the string is dependent on its spring constant,
its displacement from its rest position, and the length of the
pendulum.
Eq5. τs2=−𝑘2 𝑥𝐿(…)
Eq6. x=L sin𝜃(trigonometric identities)
The displacement of the springs is dependent on the angle and length
of the rod.
Eq7. sin𝜃 ≈ 𝜃
We will assume that we are working with small angles.
𝛼
Eq8. 𝜔 = −√𝜃 (Simple harmonic motion)
For simple harmonic motion acceleration, 𝑎 = −𝜔2 𝑥 , is proportional
to the opposite of the displacement. When we divide both sides of the
𝑎 𝑥
equation with ΔT we get 𝛥𝑇 = −𝜔2 𝛥𝑇. This gives us the equation 𝛼 =
−𝜔2 𝜃. Isolating for 𝜔 we get our equation.
2π
Eq9. 𝑇 = 𝜔 (Period of harmonic motion)
The period of oscillation, T, is given by the total change in angle
needed to complete a full rotation, 2π, divided by the angular speed.
1
Eq10. 𝐼 = 3 𝑀𝐿2
The moment of inertia of a rod rotating about its end is a third of its
mass times its length squared.
Eq11. τd=τf=τn=0
We will also assume that there is no loss of energy in this system
(drag, friction, noise, etc.)

Time Period of Pendulum with springs PAGE 4

Steps

Eq 1 and 2:
τnet=Iα =τr+ τs1+ τs2
Substitution Eq 3,4 and 5:
1
Iα =− 𝑀𝑔𝐿𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 +−𝑘1 𝑥𝐿 + −𝑘2 𝑥𝐿
2
Substitution Eq 6:
1
Iα =− 𝑀𝑔𝐿𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 −𝑘1 𝐿2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 −𝑘2 𝐿2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
2
Using the small angle approximation, Eq7, and isolating for α:
1
− 𝑀𝑔𝐿𝜃 − 𝑘1 𝐿2 𝜃 − 𝑘2 𝐿2 𝜃
𝛼= 2
𝐼
Substituting 𝛼 into Eq 8 and dividing out the 𝜃:
1 2 2
√− 2 𝑀𝑔𝐿 − 𝑘1 𝐿 − 𝑘2 𝐿
𝜔=−
𝐼
Substituting 𝜔 into Eq 9:
𝐼
𝑇 = −2𝜋√
1
− 𝑀𝑔𝐿 − 𝑘1 𝐿2 − 𝑘2 𝐿2
2
Substituting Eq 10 for I:
1
𝑀𝐿2
𝑇 = −2𝜋√ 3
1
− 𝑀𝑔𝐿 − 𝑘1 𝐿2 − 𝑘2 𝐿2
2
By restructuring the fractions, negative signs and dividing out the L:
2𝑀𝐿
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
3𝑀𝑔 + 6𝑘1 𝐿 + 6𝑘2 𝐿

Time Period of Pendulum with springs PAGE 5

Solution and Checking
2𝑀𝐿
The period of small oscillations is 𝑇 = 2𝜋√3𝑀𝑔+6𝑘 . From this equation we
1 𝐿+6𝑘2 𝐿
can tell that the period of oscillation is independent of the displacement of the
springs, x, and the and the angle of the rod, θ. However, it is dependent on all the
variables that were given in the problem: M, L, k1 and k2.

We should employ unit analysis to ensure that the variables in the equation lead
to a time variable, T seconds.
2𝑀𝐿
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
3𝑀𝑔 + 6𝑘1 𝐿 + 6𝑘2 𝐿
𝑘𝑔 ∗ 𝑚
𝑠=√
𝑁 𝑁
𝑘𝑔 ∗ 𝑎 + 𝑚 ∗ 𝑚 + 𝑚 ∗ 𝑚

𝑘𝑔 ∗ 𝑚
𝑠=√
𝑁
𝑠 = √𝑠 2
𝑠=𝑠
Therefore, the units in the equation give us a time variable.

Bonus code
Here are some code files I wrote with MATLAB.
• Plotter:
o This code simulates the system that graphs the time with respect to
each given variable “CurrVar” (M, L, k1 and k2) it sets the other
variables to 1,

Time Period of Pendulum with springs PAGE 6

g = 9.81;
M = 1;
L = 1;
k1 = 10;
k2 = 20;

% Initial angle and angular velocity

theta0 = pi/6;
omega0 = 0;

% Simulation time and time step

tspan = [0 10];
dt = 0.01;

% Define the differential equation for the pendulum

f = @(t,y) [y(2); -3*g/(2*L)*sin(y(1)) - 3*k1/(M*L)*y(1) -
3*k2/(M*L)*y(1)];

% Solve the differential equation using ode45

[t,y] = ode45(f, tspan, [theta0; omega0]);

% Calculate the position of the pendulum at each time step

x = L*sin(y(:,1));
y = -L*cos(y(:,1));

% Plot the motion of the pendulum with springs

figure;
hold on;
xlim([-1.5*L 1.5*L]);
ylim([-1.5*L 0]);
for i = 1:length(t)
% Draw the springs
line([-1.5*L x(i)], [-L y(i)], 'Color', 'k',
'LineWidth', 2);
line([x(i) 1.5*L], [y(i) -L], 'Color', 'k',
'LineWidth', 2);
% Draw the pendulum bob
plot(x(i), y(i), 'o', 'MarkerFaceColor', 'b',
'MarkerEdgeColor', 'k', 'MarkerSize', 20);
% Pause to create animation effect
pause(dt);
end

• Animator:
o This animator shows cases the motion of the pendulum with all the
parameters/givens set to 1. It is possible to change these
parameters in the top of the code to visualize how various systems
with this setup would operate.

Time Period of Pendulum with springs PAGE 7

% Parameters
M = 1; % Mass of the rod
L = 1; % Length of the rod
k1 = 1; % Spring constant 1
k2 = 1; % Spring constant 2
g = 9.81; % Acceleration due to gravity

% Initial conditions
theta0 = pi/4; % Initial angle
dtheta0 = 0; % Initial angular velocity

% Time vector
tspan = [0 10];

% Solve the equations of motion

[t, y] = ode45(@(t, y) pendulum_ode(t, y, M, L, k1, k2, g),
tspan, [theta0; dtheta0]);
% Plot the motion of the pendulum
x = L*sin(y(:, 1)); % x position of the mass
y = -L*cos(y(:, 1)); % y position of the mass

figure;
for i = 1:length(t)
plot([0 x(i)], [0 y(i)], 'b-', 'LineWidth', 2); %
Rod
hold on;
plot(x(i), y(i), 'ro', 'MarkerSize', 10,
'MarkerFaceColor', 'r'); % Mass
xlim([-1.5*L 1.5*L]);
ylim([-1.5*L 0]);
axis equal;
drawnow;
hold off;
end

Time Period of Pendulum with springs PAGE 8

function dydt = pendulum_ode(t, y, M, L, k1, k2, g)
%ODE function for a pendulum with two springs
theta = y(1);
dtheta = y(2);

dydt = zeros(2, 1);

dydt(1) = dtheta;
dydt(2) = -g/L*sin(theta) - (3*k1+3*k2)/(M*L)*theta;
end

References

Anchordoqui's , L. (n.d.). Chapter 24 Physical Pendulum. lehman. Retrieved March 20,

2023, from https://www.lehman.edu/faculty/anchordoqui/chapter24.pdf

Bergevin , C. (n.d.). Lect.06 - Oscillations I (Intro). eclass. Retrieved from

https://eclass.yorku.ca/pluginfile.php/4692981/mod_resource/content/0/2010W23L
06.pdf

Fowles, G. R., & Cassiday, G. L. (2005). Analytical Mechanics. Thomson Brooks/Cole.

OpenStax. (2016, August 3). University physics volume 1. 15.4 Pendulums | University
Physics Volume 1. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-osuniversityphysics/chapter/15-4-
pendulums/

Time Period of Pendulum with springs PAGE 9