Question

Yung hangs a mass from a rod, sets the pendulum in simple harmonic motion, and determines the period of the pendulum. How could Yung decrease the period of the pendulum?

He could use a longer rod.
He could use a shorter rod.
He could use a larger mass.
He could use a smaller mass.

Answer 1

He could use a shorter rod.

Also, if the rod is NOT massless, then using a smaller mass on the end
would also decrease the period (make the pendulum wiggle faster).

Answer 2

He could use a shorter rod.

Step-by-step explanation:

Period of a pendulum is given by:

`T = 2 \pi \sqrt (L)/(g)`

Where, L is the length of the rod and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

Period of a pendulum does not depend on the mass that is hung. It just depends upon the length of the rod by which the mass hangs. Period can be decreased if the length of the rod is decreased. Thus, Yung should use a shorter rod.