Maybe we can use this kind of exercise to parallel what students do in laboratory based courses. We have chosen to study the behavior of a pendulum and try to learn how the length of the pendulum arm and the size and mass of the pendulum bob affect its motion. In these two works, Galileo discusses some of the major points he discovered about pendulums. Follow the links to jump to an experimental evaluation of the claim.
Pendulums nearly return to their release heights.
All pendulums eventually come to rest with the lighter ones coming to rest faster. The period is independent of the bob weight. The period is independent of the amplitude. The square of the period varies directly with the length. This is very interesting, but we chose to restrict this project to pendulums like those found on grandfather clocks.