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Galileo's Pendulum

Purpose

To demonstrate conservation of energy in a simple system.

Equipment

Galileo's pendulum, as photographed.

Images

c8-03

Description

The pendulum is hung from the upper peg with the lower peg interrupting its swing to the right. When started from the left at a given height, the pendulum rises to that same height on the right, after being stopped by the lower peg.

References

Herbert T. Wood, The Interrupted Pendulum, TPT 32, 422-423 (1994).