More on the Pendulum

We have $$ \frac{d^2\theta}{d\hat{t}^2}+\frac{1}{Q}\frac{d\theta}{d\hat{t}} +sin(\theta)=\hat{A}cos(\hat{\omega}\hat{t}). $$ This equation can in turn be recast in terms of two coupled first-order differential equations as follows $$ \frac{d\theta}{d\hat{t}}=\hat{v}, $$ and $$ \frac{d\hat{v}}{d\hat{t}}=-\frac{\hat{v}}{Q}-sin(\theta)+\hat{A}cos(\hat{\omega}\hat{t}). $$ These are the equations to be solved. The factor \( Q \) represents the number of oscillations of the undriven system that must occur before its energy is significantly reduced due to the viscous drag. The amplitude \( \hat{A} \) is measured in units of the maximum possible gravitational torque while \( \hat{\omega} \) is the angular frequency of the external torque measured in units of the pendulum's natural frequency.