College

The period [tex]T[/tex] (in seconds) of a pendulum is given by [tex]T = 2 \pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{32}}[/tex], where [tex]L[/tex] stands for the length (in feet) of the pendulum. If [tex]\pi = 3.14[/tex] and the period is 1.57 seconds, what is the length?

A. 2 feet
B. 20 feet
C. 16 feet
D. 8 feet

Answer :

We start with the period formula for a pendulum:

[tex]$$
T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{32}},
$$[/tex]

where [tex]$T = 1.57$[/tex] seconds, [tex]$\pi = 3.14$[/tex], and [tex]$L$[/tex] is the length in feet.

Step 1. Isolate the square root term by dividing both sides by [tex]$2\pi$[/tex]:

[tex]$$
\sqrt{\frac{L}{32}} = \frac{T}{2\pi} = \frac{1.57}{2 \times 3.14}.
$$[/tex]

Step 2. Compute the value of the right-hand side:

[tex]$$
\frac{1.57}{6.28} = 0.25.
$$[/tex]

So, we have:

[tex]$$
\sqrt{\frac{L}{32}} = 0.25.
$$[/tex]

Step 3. Square both sides to eliminate the square root:

[tex]$$
\frac{L}{32} = (0.25)^2 = 0.0625.
$$[/tex]

Step 4. Solve for [tex]$L$[/tex] by multiplying both sides by 32:

[tex]$$
L = 32 \times 0.0625 = 2.
$$[/tex]

Thus, the length of the pendulum is [tex]$\boxed{2\text{ feet}}$[/tex].