Question #6578f

1 Answer
Jan 28, 2017

For a simple pendulum making a small angle #theta# with the vertical we have its time period #T#, the time taken for a complete cycle as

#T=2pisqrt(l/g)#
where #l# is its length and #g# is acceleration due to gravity.

Setting #T=oo#, we get

Either #l=oo# or #g=0#.
Physically it may not be possible to realize a pendulum with #l# length as infinite.
However, there would arise situations where #g=0#. Though division by #0# is not defined we may be able to state that time period will be a very large undefined number.
it is same as running a pendulum in gravity free region,

Pendulum in a freely falling lift is an example of such a situation. In the frame of reference of lift we need to account for acceleration of so that so that Newton's Laws of motion are valid and could be applied. Hence, a pseudo force equal and opposite to downward force due to #g# is added to acceleration of the lift.