What happens when you give a string and a weight to a group of curious IGCSE students? A swinging good time—and a solid Physics lesson!

At Templer Park International School (TPIS), Rawang, our IGCSE students recently explored how a simple pendulum works by observing its swings and measuring the time it takes to complete several oscillations. Before the experiment began, many students predicted that the mass or angle might affect how fast the pendulum swings. But Physics had something else to teach them!

🔍 The Big Discovery?
Only the length of the string affects the pendulum’s period (the time it takes for one full swing). The mass of the bob and the release angle? Surprisingly, they don’t make a difference. Just like Galileo discovered centuries ago, longer strings swing more slowly, and shorter strings swing faster.

To get accurate results, students conducted multiple trials, carefully recorded their data, and calculated the average time for each setup. This helped them sharpen their investigative skills while practicing key IGCSE Physics concepts like variables, accuracy, and fair testing.

At TPIS, we place a strong emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning—because we believe students learn best when they’re actively involved in the process. Experiments like this not only make lessons more engaging but also help students connect theory to the real world.

More than just a classroom experiment, this activity brought Physics to life at TPIS. It reminded students that even simple setups can unlock powerful insights into how the world works.

Whether it’s in a ticking clock or a swinging science project, pendulums are more than just old-school tech—they’re a classic example of how observation and curiosity lead to real learning.