Demonstrating the physics of simple pendulum via computer simulation

Abstract

This paper investigates how one can teach 'the physics of simple pendulum in the classroom by means of computer simulation, Employing the fourth order Runge-Kutta method carries out the simulation. It is believed that the simulation helps students to understand the physics of simple pendulum easily The simulation results agree quite well with the anaiyt1cal solution which-is quite often overiooked in the classroom. The numerical method used is stable in simulating the physics of simple pendulum. Moreover, since we developed the simulation by using matlab software graphical user interface (GUI), its interactivness is unquestionable.