---
title: "A simple pendulum consists of a small bob of mass \\(m\\) attached to a light rigid rod of length \\(L\\) pivoted freely at the ceiling. The angular displacement \\(\\theta\\) of the rod from the downward vertical is defined as positive in the counterclockwise direction, and torque \\(\\tau\\) exerted about the pivot is also defined as positive in the counterclockwise direction. The bob is free to rotate through a complete vertical circle. Which of the following graphs best represents the net torque \\(\\tau\\) exerted about the pivot as a function of \\(\\theta\\) over the interval \\(-\\pi \\le \\theta \\le \\pi\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124574/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T14:08:42+00:00"
---

# A simple pendulum consists of a small bob of mass \(m\) attached to a light rigid rod of length \(L\) pivoted freely at the ceiling. The angular displacement \(\theta\) of the rod from the downward vertical is defined as positive in the counterclockwise direction, and torque \(\tau\) exerted about the pivot is also defined as positive in the counterclockwise direction. The bob is free to rotate through a complete vertical circle. Which of the following graphs best represents the net torque \(\tau\) exerted about the pivot as a function of \(\theta\) over the interval \(-\pi \le \theta \le \pi\)?

A simple pendulum consists of a small bob of mass \(m\) attached to a light rigid rod of length \(L\) pivoted freely at the ceiling. The angular displacement \(\theta\) of the rod from the downward vertical is defined as positive in the counterclockwise direction, and torque \(\tau\) exerted about the pivot is also defined as positive in the counterclockwise direction. The bob is free to rotate through a complete vertical circle. Which of the following graphs best represents the net torque \(\tau\) exerted about the pivot as a function of \(\theta\) over the interval \(-\pi \le \theta \le \pi\)?

![A schematic diagram showing a simple pendulum. At the top, a horizontal ceiling is drawn with diagonal hatch marks above it. A small filled circle represents a pivot at the ceiling. A dashed vertical line extends downward from the pivot to represent the equilibrium position. A solid line representing a light rod of length \(L\) extends from the pivot downward and to the right into the fourth quadrant, forming an angle \(\theta\) with the vertical dashed line. A curved arrow near the pivot indicates the angular displacement \(\theta\) in the counterclockwise direction from the dashed vertical line to the rod. At the lower end of the rod, a solid circular bob of mass \(m\) is attached. A downward vertical arrow labeled \(mg\) originates from the center of the bob. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1790604521-63Pstb.jpg)

- **A.** Graph A
- **B.** Graph B
- **C.** Graph C
- **D.** Graph D

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124574/*