Oscillation Period Calculator
Calculate pendulum period from length.
About Oscillation Period Calculator
The pendulum period for Oscillation Period depends only on length and gravity at small angles, so longer pendulums swing slower regardless of the bob's mass. A pendulum's period is set by geometry and gravity alone, which is why it became a reliable clock.
Formula
Oscillation Period
T = 2*pi*sqrt(L/g); large amplitude adds a small correction
- small angle
- Below about 15 degrees, the correction is negligible
Worked example
With the default values below, Oscillation Period Calculator returns Period of 2.0099. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Lengthminimum 0 m
- 1 m
- Gravityminimum 0 m/s^2
- 9.81 m/s^2
- Amplitudeminimum 0 deg
- 10 deg
Results
- Period
- 2.0099 s
- Frequency
- 0.4975 Hz
- Small-Angle Period
- 2.0061 s
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Oscillation Period
- 3Period= 2.0099 s
- 4Frequency= 0.4975 Hz
- 5Small-Angle Period= 2.0061 s
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Oscillation Period calculated?
T = 2*pi*sqrt(L/g); large amplitude adds a small correction The pendulum period for Oscillation Period depends only on length and gravity at small angles, so longer pendulums swing slower regardless of the bob's mass.
Why does Oscillation Period matter?
A pendulum's period is set by geometry and gravity alone, which is why it became a reliable clock.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 3 inputs: Length, Gravity, Amplitude. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.