When a simple pendulum is moved from ground level to Mount Everest, several factors come into play that affect its period of oscillation:
1. Change in Gravitational Force:
• At higher altitudes, like Mount Everest, the gravitational force is slightly weaker compared to sea level. This reduced gravitational force causes the pendulum to experience a lower restoring force when displaced from its equilibrium position.
2. Air Density:
• The air density at Mount Everest is significantly lower than at sea level. This reduced air density means there is less air resistance acting on the pendulum as it swings, leading to a decrease in damping.
3. Temperature:
• The temperature at Mount Everest is much colder than at ground level. This temperature difference affects the length of the pendulum. As temperature decreases, most materials contract, including the pendulum's rod.
Considering these factors, here's how the period of oscillation of a simple pendulum changes when moved from ground to Mount Everest:
A. Period Increases:
• The primary effect of reduced gravitational force is to increase the period of oscillation. With a weaker restoring force, the pendulum takes a longer time to complete each swing.
B. Damping Decreases:
• The reduced air resistance at high altitudes decreases the damping effect on the pendulum's motion. This allows the pendulum to oscillate with a smaller loss of energy, leading to a longer period of oscillation.
C. Length Shortens:
• The lower temperature at Mount Everest causes the pendulum's rod to contract slightly. This缩短the effective length of the pendulum, which, in turn, reduces the period of oscillation.
Overall Effect:
The combined effect of reduced gravitational force and decreased air resistance dominates over the effect of a shorter pendulum length. As a result, the period of oscillation of a simple pendulum generally increases when moved from ground level to Mount Everest.
