Application of Laplace Transform in Wrecking Ball (Simple

Pendulum Motion)
Julio Putra David David1, 018201700006
1Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Jl. Ki Hajar Dewantara, Jababeka Education Park, Cikarang, Jawa Barat 17550

Abstract. There are so many ways to solve problems in mathematical way. One of the useful model in
mathematic is Laplace Transform. In this paper, Laplace Transform is used for solving second order linear
differential equation of physical pendulum motion, which one of the common implementation is wrecking
ball. In physics, when wrecking ball motion is observed, like simple pendulum motion, the motion forms
second order linear homogeneous differential equation, denoted as :
𝑔
𝜃 ′′ + 𝜃 = 0
𝐿
Laplace Transform is chosen based on its ease of use and its simplicity. Only by using the known table of
laplace transform and the inverse rule of laplace transform, the second order linear differential equation of
simple pendulum motion can be solved. By the equation is solved, the velocity and acceleration of the
simple pendulum motion is obtained, which is the most important thing in estimating the motion of the
wrecking ball.

1. Introduction
There are so many problems in the world that can be solved in mathematical ways. Mathematic is used almost
in every human activity, like trading, measuring, time counting, manufacturing etc. Mathematic is also used to solve
problems in some professional aspects, such as engineering, physics, economic, social, industry, etc [1]. The problems in
those aspects will be mathematically identified, formulated, and modelled to determine the solution [1].
One of mathematical model that can be formulated from problem is second order linear homogeneous differential
equation with constant coefficient [1]. To solve that problem, laplace transform can be applied. Laplace transform is
oftenly used in linear system analysis. Laplace transform can solve algebraic problem, which is harder to be solved in
differential equation. By using Laplace transform, a problem with domain of t can be transformed to domain of s. General
form of laplace transform is defined as [3] :
∞
ℒ{𝐹(𝑡)} = 𝑓(𝑠) = ∫ 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝐹(𝑡)𝑑𝑡
0
Laplace transform can also be applied in physics. One of the problem that can be solved using laplace transform
is oscillation. Oscillation motion happens when an object changes at its equilibrium point and shows a periodic motion
[2]. The most common type of oscillation is simple harmonic motion. Any motion that repeats the motion at a same
intervals around x-axis is considered as simple harmonic motion. One of the most common example of simple harmonic
motion is the motion of simple pendulum, physical pendulum, and torsion pendulum. Based on observation, those three
pendulum have equations of motion that shows particle displacement, velocity, and acceleration when it is oscillating [1].
In real life, the pendulum motions are implemented in some industrial sectors. One of the common
implementation is on the wrecking ball. The ball that is used for wrecking a building has been estimated mathematically,
so it will work properly and safely. Using the laplace transform, it will help the user of the wrecking ball to estimate the
velocity and acceleration of the wrecking ball.
Based on the problem analysis, this paper will focus to discuss about application of laplace transform on second
order linear homogeneous differential equation to solve equation of motion of pendulum motion. This paper will only
discuss the application of laplace transform in simple pendulum equation. The reason why this paper is only focusing on
simple pendulum is because the equation of motion of all three pendulums is similar.

2. Discussion

2.1 Laplace Transform

Laplace transform is a mathematical method to solve linear differential equation. Laplace transform is defined as :
 ∞
ℒ{𝐹(𝑡)} = 𝑓(𝑠) = ∫ 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝐹(𝑡)𝑑𝑡
0
Some properties of laplace transform are :
1. Linearity property
ℒ {𝑐1 𝑓(𝑡) + 𝑐2 𝑔(𝑡)} = 𝑐1 ℒ{𝑓(𝑡)} + 𝑐2 ℒ{𝑔(𝑡)}
2. First shift property
ℒ {𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑓(𝑡)} = 𝐹(𝑠 − 𝑎)
3. Derivative of transform property
𝑑 𝑛 𝐹(𝑠)
ℒ {𝑡 𝑛 𝑓(𝑡)} = (−1)𝑛
𝑑𝑠 𝑛
To make solving equation easier with laplace transform, below is table that can be used. This table is obtained by
formulating some equations.

Table 1. Table of Laplace Transform [3]

f(t) F(s)
1
1
𝑠
1
t
𝑠2
𝑛!
tn
𝑆𝑛 + 1
1
eat
𝑠−𝑎
𝑛!
tneat (𝑠 − 𝑎)𝑛+1
𝑠
cos(𝜔t) 𝑠 2 + 𝜔2
𝜔
sin(𝜔t) 𝑠2 + 𝜔
𝑠−𝑎
eatcos(𝜔t) (𝑠 − 𝑎)2 + 𝜔2
𝑤
eatsin(𝜔t) (𝑠 − 𝑎)2 + 𝜔2
𝑠 2 − 𝜔2
t cos(𝜔t)
(𝑠 2 + 𝜔2 )2
2𝜔𝑠
t sin(𝜔t) (𝑠 2 + 𝜔2 )2

The transformation property that will be useful in the main discussion of this paper is transform of derivatives.
The general form of this property is
First order differential equation : ℒ{𝑓 ′ (𝑡)} = 𝑠ℒ{𝑓(𝑡)} − 𝑓(0)}
′ (𝑡)}
Second order differential equation : ℒ{𝑓′ = 𝑠 2 ℒ{𝑓(𝑡)} − 𝑠𝑓(0) − 𝑓′(0)}
For the inverse transform of laplace transform, the general form is
𝑓(𝑡) = ℒ −1 {𝐹(𝑠)}

2.2 Solving Simple Pendulum Equation with Laplace Transform

The motion of simple pendulum is categorized as oscillation. Simple pendulum consists of light rope and a small
ball or pendulum with mass of m that hung on the edge of the rope. In simple pendulum motion, usually the air friction
force is neglected and because the mass of the rope is very small, it can be neglected as well [1].

Fig. 1. Simple pendulum motion [4]

 The force that works on pendulum is the weight force Fg and tension force of string 𝑇 ⃗ or Ft. Fg can be denoted
as mg. If the rope forms angle 𝜃 towards vertical, then the weight have components of Fg cos 𝜃 and Fg sin 𝜃 perpendicular.
The amplitude is constant because the air friction force is neglected. Therefore, from s to 𝜃 denoted with s = L𝜃. The Ft
is equal with –Fg sin 𝜃, 𝜃 therefore, in accordance with Newton’s second law, the acceleration a of pendulum relates to
tension force of string Ft defined as [1]
Ft = 𝑚𝑎

𝑑2𝑥
−𝑚𝑔 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑚𝑎 = 𝑚 (1)
𝑑𝑡 2

m : mass of object (kg)

g : gravity acceleration (m/s2)
a : acceleration (m/s2)

Because the 𝜃 is relatively small, then sin 𝜃 can be assumed as sin 𝜃 ≈ 𝜃 [1]. SO, the equation becomes
𝑑2 𝑥
−𝑚𝑔 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = −𝑚𝑔 𝜃 = 𝑚 (2)
𝑑𝑡 2
𝑑2𝑥 𝑑2𝜃
Because x = L𝜃, then =𝐿 . Therefore, equation (2) can be denoted as [1]
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 2
𝑑2𝜃
−𝑚𝑔 𝜃 = 𝑚𝐿
𝑑𝑡 2
𝑑2 𝜃
−𝑔𝜃 = 𝐿
𝑑𝑡 2
𝑑2𝜃 𝑔
=− 𝜃
𝑑𝑡 2 𝐿
𝑔
𝜃 ′′ + 𝜃 =
0 (3)
𝐿
The equation (3) is second order linear differential equation. Laplace Transform is used because in pendulum
motion there are initial conditions that need to be done.The initial condition is when pendulum is on a certain deviation
wiht certain velocity [1]. The equation (3) will be arranged again in algebraic form, which become :
𝑔
𝜃 ′′ + 𝜃 = 0
𝐿
𝜃 ′′ + 𝜔2 𝜃 = 0 (4)
𝑔
𝜔 is obtained from the angular frequency 𝜔 = √
𝐿
If the given initial conditions are 𝜃(0) = A, 𝜃’(0) = 0, ℒ{𝜃} = 𝜃(𝑠) [1], then using the transform of derivatives
in laplace transform method, equation (4) become
ℒ{𝜃 ′′ + 𝜔2 𝜃 = ℒ{0}
ℒ{𝜃 ′′ } + ℒ{𝜔2 𝜃} = 0
ℒ{𝜃 ′′ } + 𝜔2 ℒ{𝜃} = 0
[𝑠 2 ℒ{𝜃} − 𝑠𝜃(0) − 𝜃 ′ (0)] + 𝜔2 ℒ{𝜃} = 0
𝑠 2 𝜃(𝑠) − 𝑠𝐴 − 0 + 𝜔2 𝜃(𝑠) = 0
(𝑠 2 + 𝜔2 )𝜃(𝑠) = 𝑠𝐴
𝑠𝐴
𝜃(𝑠) = 2 2
𝑠 +𝜔

With laplace transform table and inverse rule of laplace transform, the simple pendulum equation of motion can
be obtained.
𝑠𝐴
ℒ −1 {𝜃(𝑠)} = ℒ −1 { 2 2 }
𝑠 +𝜔
𝑠𝐴
𝜃(𝑡) = ℒ −1 { }
𝑠 2 +𝜔2
−1 𝑠
𝜃(𝑡) = 𝐴ℒ { 2 2 }
𝑠 +𝜔
𝜃(𝑡) = 𝐴 cos 𝜔𝑡
𝜃(𝑡) = 𝐴 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 0)
𝜃(𝑡) = 𝐴 cos(𝜔𝑡 + ∅)

Based on obtained equation of simple pendulum motion, then the velocity and angular acceleration respectively
is [1]
𝑑𝜃 𝑑(𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡+∅))
𝜔(𝑡) = = = −𝐴 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 + ∅) 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
and
𝑑𝜃 𝑑(−𝐴 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡+∅))
𝑎(𝑡) = = = −𝐴𝜔2 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡 + ∅) 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠 2
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
3. CONCLUSION
One of the implementation of laplace transform in physics is on wrecking ball which uses equation of simple
pendulum motion which is in a form of second order linear differential equation. In solving the equation, the components
of simple pendulum motion need to be analyzed. The general form of the second order linear differential equation that is
used in simple pnedulum motion is 𝜃 ′′ + 𝜔2 𝜃 = 0. Then, that equation is transformed with laplace transform method,
𝑠𝐴
the transform of derivatives. After that, an inversible equation is obtained, which is ℒ −1 {𝜃(𝑠)} = ℒ −1 { 2 2 }. By using
𝑠 +𝜔
the laplace transform table and the inverse rule of laplace transform, the velocity and angular accleration of simple
pendulum motion are obtained. By doing this calculation, the wrecking ball can work properly and safely, because the
velocity and acceleration of the ball will be used to wreck a building are already estimated mathematically.

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