Physics
Period (Time Period)
Quick fact
The period of a pendulum depends only on its length and gravity, not on how far it swings – a property that made pendulum clocks reliable timekeepers.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever watched a pendulum swing back and forth, or noticed how the seasons repeat every year? Each of these cycles has a special duration called its 'period' – but what exactly defines it, and why does it stay constant?