Approximations for the Period of a Simple Pendulum

Abstract

In a recent paper1 L. Edward Millet proposed a justification of an approximation for the period of a simple pendulum suggested earlier by Kidd and Fogg,2 and made the argument that the expression should be included in textbooks. This paper presents two other approximations that are more accurate. At this point it would seem that a decision as to which approximation, if any, should be included in textbooks or lab manuals is premature.