Pendulum Oscillating In A Uniform Electric Field

Oscillation is the movement of a specific object (a pendulum) in back and forth motion within two positions or states. Energy changes cause the pendulum to swing back and forth at a central neutral point. The oscillation occurs in oscillators, which are mechanical or electrical devices.

Pendulum

The word pendulum is derived from the Latin word “pendulum”, which means hanging. A pendulum is a body that hangs from a fixed point. Once forced back and released, it returns to its original position. Nearly every major museum includes a pendulum that is always in motion. This is an excellent example of a pendulum that you can generally see in museums—different types of forces impact pendulums. Inertia, known as the opposing force of an entity, makes a pendulum oscillate in a straight or vertical direction. The force of gravity, which acts downward and causes two objects to drag toward each other, is what drags a pendulum horizontally back.

Working on a Pendulum

Bob is the mass at the end of a simple pendulum; it has a fixed weight. Once moved from its beginning position to a starting angle and released, the pendulum goes back and remains freely in motion. All simple pendulums have a constant time taken for one complete rotation of a left movement and a right movement despite the starting angle.

Types and Uses of Pendulums

Different types of pendulums include simple pendulums, double pendulums, bifilar pendulums, Foucault pendulums, torsion pendulums, etc. Using bifilar pendulums, scientists have determined irregularities in the earth’s rotation. These pendulums have also helped uncover important data on earthquakes. The Foucault pendulum, invented by French scientist Leon Foucault, is used primarily to understand the earth’s rotation. Though not strictly a pendulum, the torsion pendulum does not oscillate owing to the force of the earth. It is commonly used for functions related to timekeeping, such as regulating the movement of clocks.

Oscillation

Oscillation refers to an object’s recurrent back and forth movement between two positions or states. An oscillation is a periodic movement that repeats itself during a regular cycle, like a circular function wave. A wave refers to the motion within the swing area or the up-and-down motion of spring with a weight. An oscillatory movement happens around equilibrium, conjointly referred to as a periodic movement. A single oscillation may be a complete movement, whether up and down or facet to facet, over time.

One oscillation of a pendulum

When a pendulum starts moving from position A, reaches position B,  and then returns to position A, it completes one oscillation. The time required for the pendulum to complete one oscillation is called a period. This period of oscillation remains constant.

How does the oscillation of a clock pendulum work?

The oscillation of the pendulum in a clock occurs due to energy changes. The potential energy of the clock’s pendulum is present everywhere except at the central point, which gets converted to kinetic energy as soon as the pendulum falls and drives upward on the other side. When the swing’s kinetic energy is expended at the top, potential energy is returned. With no kinetic energy to drive it higher, the pendulum falls. Clocks with pendulums always show the time by the frequency of pendulum swings. The swinging of the pendulum results in abrading or friction. Mechanical pendulum watches use springs to reduce friction while swinging. The most commonly used oscillators in electronic clocks are quartz and electron. Atomic clocks estimate oscillation within atoms.

Oscillation In A Uniform Electric field

A uniform electric field is a field in which the value of the field strength remains the same at all points. In an exceedingly uniform field, the value of the field strength does not change, and therefore, field lines tend to be parallel and equidistant to each other.  It can be calculated by placing two conducting plates similar to each other and maintaining a voltage (potential difference) between them, but it is only an approximation. Suppose infinite planes, then the value of the electric field is :

E= -V/d

The voltage, also known as the electric potential difference, can easily be measured using a voltmeter. The electrical potential difference between two plates is V=Ed, where Ed is the electric field intensity multiplied by the plate distance. 

Suppose a positively charged pendulum is placed in a uniform electric field. The string’s tension, gravity and electric force are due to the field acting on the pendulum. The electric field is exerting a force upward on the pendulum. The resultant gravitational force g’ is equal to g-qE/m. That means g’ is less than g (gravity). If g becomes equal to g’  and the value of g’ is smaller than the value of g, then the time of the pendulum will decrease.

Conclusion

This article discusses the pendulum, its types, and how it works. It also explains the concept of oscillation and how a pendulum’s oscillation works. A pendulum oscillates in a uniform electric field where its period increases or decreases depending on the charge of the electric field.