2026/05/23 by Adel H. Alameh · 1 voice
Physics and Astronomy · #physics.class-ph
The motion of a simple pendulum in a uniform gravitational field can be described by the solution of a second-order differential equation, nonlinear differential equation. In practice we solve this equation using the small angle approximation relying on students familiarity with simple harmonic motion. This paper presents a straightforward method of finding the time equation of motion of a simple pendulum for small angular amplitudes, without having any recourse to solving the differential equation that governs its oscillations. This method relies on finding the indefinite integral of a certain relation derived from the conservation of mechanical energy of the system (Pendulum-Earth). And shows no need to the mathematical complexities in which differential equations are involved.