---
title: "A student is performing an experiment with a simple pendulum to determine how its properties affect the time it takes to complete one full oscillation. In the first trial, a bob of mass \\( m \\) is attached to a string of length \\( L \\), and the period is measured to be \\( T \\). In a second trial, the student replaces the string with one of length \\( 4L \\) while keeping the same bob and the same small initial launch angle. Which of the following correctly describes the change in the period of the pendulum for the second trial?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/109462/"
date_modified: "2026-03-23T01:19:19+00:00"
---

# A student is performing an experiment with a simple pendulum to determine how its properties affect the time it takes to complete one full oscillation. In the first trial, a bob of mass \( m \) is attached to a string of length \( L \), and the period is measured to be \( T \). In a second trial, the student replaces the string with one of length \( 4L \) while keeping the same bob and the same small initial launch angle. Which of the following correctly describes the change in the period of the pendulum for the second trial?

A student is performing an experiment with a simple pendulum to determine how its properties affect the time it takes to complete one full oscillation. In the first trial, a bob of mass \( m \) is attached to a string of length \( L \), and the period is measured to be \( T \). In a second trial, the student replaces the string with one of length \( 4L \) while keeping the same bob and the same small initial launch angle. Which of the following correctly describes the change in the period of the pendulum for the second trial?

![A simple pendulum consists of a pivot point at the top, a thin string of length L extending downwards at a small angle from a vertical dashed line. A circular bob of mass m is at the end of the string. A curved double-headed arrow indicates the path of oscillation.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1774228758-1AQTPo.jpg)

- **A.** The period increases by a factor of 2 because the period is proportional to the square root of the length.
- **B.** The period increases by a factor of 4 because the period is directly proportional to the length.
- **C.** The period decreases by a factor of 2 because the length is in the denominator of the equation for the period of a pendulum.
- **D.** The period remains the same because the period depends only on the mass of the bob and the gravitational field strength.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/109462/*