Q. Two simple pendulums whose lengths are $100cm$ and $121cm$ are suspended side by side. Their bobs are pulled together and then released. After how many minimum oscillations of the longer pendulum, will the two be in phase again

A) 11
B) 10
C) 21
D) 20
Explanation

(b) Let $T_{1}$ and $T_{2}$ be the time period of the two pendulums $T_{1} = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{100}{g}}\ $and$\ T_{2} = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{121}{g}}$
$\lbrack T_{1} < T_{2}\ $because$\ l_{1} < l_{2}\rbrack$
Let at $t = 0,$ they start swinging together. Since their time periods are different, the swinging will not be in unision always. Only when number of completed oscillation differs by an integer, the two pendulum will again begin to swing together.
Let longer length pendulum complete $n$ oscillation and shorter length pendulum complete $(n + 1)$ oscillation, for the unision swinging, then $(n + 1)T_{1} = nT_{2}$
$(n + 1) \times 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{100}{g}} = n \times 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{121}{g}} \Rightarrow n = 10$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.

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