Pendulum

A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot point so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced from its resting, equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position. When released, the restoring force combined with the pendulum's mass causes it to oscillate about the equilibrium position, swinging back and forth. The time for one complete cycle, called the period, is usually only dependent on the length of the pendulum and the acceleration due to gravity. In Hebrew, a pendulum is called נדנד (nundan). In French, it is known as pendule, while in German it is called Pendel. Pendulums are used in a variety of applications, including timekeeping in clocks, seismic activity measurement in seismometers, and as components in scientific instruments like accelerometers and gravimeters. The regular motion of pendulums makes them useful for timekeeping, as the device can be used to mark the passage of time. Pendulums are also used in physics experiments to demonstrate principles such as conservation of energy and simple harmonic motion.