Asked by Skyler

A pendulum has a mass of 3-kg, a length of 2 meters and swings through a (half)arc of 27.3 degrees. What is its Amplitude to the nearest centimeter ?
Answered by drwls
How do you define amplitude in this case? It could be height range L(1-cos27.3), sideways motion range (L sin 27.3) or angle range (27.3 degrees). Once you have the definition, use the half-arc angle and trigonometry.

The angle range would not have units of length, so it isn't that.

The mass does not affect the answer.
Answered by Skyler
Yeah too bad I've never taken trig and have no idea what half-arc even means
Answered by drwls
The half arc is the maximum angle swing, in this case 27.3 degrees.

You should not be taking physics if you haven't had trigonometry
Answered by Skyler
Well it's a bit too late for that. I'm already in Calc 2 so is there anyway you can just explain this problem to me so I can finish my work.
Answered by drwls
If you are taking calc2, then you must know what sine and cosine functions, etc. are. What I am calling trigonometry you may have been taught as "precalc"
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