Swing: Integration of Experimental Physics and Numerical Methods

Abstract

This work proposes a teaching methodology for learning the movement of a swing (largescale pendulum) in a plaza environment, integrating the Experimental Physics 1 course with Numerical Methods. Experimental Physics 1 undergraduate students use a smartphone equipped with an app to record swing acceleration and angular velocity measurements. They then analyze the experimental data to determine whether the swing’s motion can be modeled as a simple pendulum. They are guided in the numerical resolution of the pendulum equation using two methods: Euler and Runge-Kutta of order four. Finally, the experimental data are compared with the numerical results to evaluate the capacity of the model to explain the observed dynamics. This integration between physics and mathematics improves the understanding of the movement of the swing, strengthens students’ programming and numerical analysis skills, and values collaboration between disciplines.