Langpendel

Langpendel is the Dutch term for a long pendulum, a pendulum whose length is significantly greater than that of a simple classroom or toy pendulum. It is used in physics demonstrations, educational settings, and historical clockmaking to illustrate core principles of pendular motion, gravity, and isochronism.

In physics, the period of a simple pendulum is approximated by T = 2π√(L/g) for small angular displacements, where L is the length from the pivot to the center of mass and g is the acceleration due to gravity. For very long pendulums, the same relation applies, but practical factors such as air resistance, pivot friction, and structural stability become more influential. Long pendulums also help reduce certain errors in precision measurements and can make small angular changes easier to observe.

Construction and operation typically involve a rigid rod or a durable string with a substantial bob, suspended from a smooth, low-friction pivot. The length L is measured to the bob’s center of mass. To maintain accuracy, the apparatus is designed to minimize air currents and vibration, and the pivot supports are chosen to provide stable motion over many oscillations.

Historical and pedagogical relevance includes demonstrations of harmonic motion, measurements of gravitational acceleration, and the study of clock mechanisms. Long pendulums were central to early precision timekeeping, and later experiments such as the Foucault pendulum rely on long suspensions to reveal rotational effects of the Earth.

See also: pendulum, isochronism, simple harmonic motion, Foucault pendulum.