compound pendulum

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June 24, 2026

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A compound pendulum is a physical pendulum with an extended mass, such as a swinging bar, that can oscillate around a horizontal axis. Unlike a simple pendulum, which consists of a bob at the end of a light thread, a compound pendulum has a more complex structure. The period of oscillation for a compound pendulum is influenced by its moment of inertia, which is a measure of its resistance to rotational changes. These pendulums can be used in applications like measuring the acceleration of gravity.123

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pendulum
A compound pendulum has an extended mass, like a swinging bar, and is free to oscillate about a horizontal axis. A special reversible compound pendulum called Kater’s pendulum is designed to measure the value of g, the acceleration of gravity.
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A compound pendulum has an extended mass, like a swinging bar, and is free to oscillate about a horizontal axis. A special reversible compound pendulum called Kater’s pendulum is designed to measure the value of g, the acceleration of gravity.
Read More