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Volume 4,Issue 1

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26 October 2025

Research on the Design and Implementation of Inquiry-Based Simple Pendulum Experiment Teaching Using VS Code

Xin Zhong1 Yifeng Liu1 Huixia Zhang2 Ying Wang1
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1 School of Physics and Mechanical and Electronical Engineering, Longyan University, Longyan 364012, Fujian, China
2 College of Life Sciences, Longyan University, Longyan 364000, Fujian, China
CEF 2025 , 3(9), 62–68; https://doi.org/10.18063/CEF.v3i9.1076
© 2025 by the Author. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

The motion of a simple pendulum is a classical mechanics problem in physics practical teaching, involving concepts such as gravity and energy transformation. Students often find it challenging to grasp, and traditional experiments are prone to large data errors and complex procedures due to interference from factors like friction and air resistance. To address these issues, an inquiry-based experimental teaching model for the simple pendulum was developed using VS Code. An HTML-based simulation program was created to model the pendulum’s motion under a composite force field combining gravity and magnetic forces, enabling analysis of how initial angle, pendulum mass and varying magnetic environments affect oscillation amplitude and angular velocity. The instructional design integrates contextualized teaching, theory-practice integration, and digital tools to establish a progressive learning pathway—from foundational understanding to in-depth inquiry. The teaching process comprises four stages: introduction, theoretical instruction, experimental exploration, and summary with extension. Inquiry-based and demonstration methods are employed, with VS Code used to visually render motion trajectories and analytical results, thereby overcoming limitations of conventional experiments and enhancing both precision and efficiency. Through group-based hands-on activities, data analysis, and discussions, students gain a solid understanding of pendulum dynamics and physical phenomena in complex force fields, while developing scientific reasoning, inquiry skills, and proficiency in information technology. This approach—driven by authentic contexts, structured in progressive layers, and supported by digital tools—not only stimulates student engagement but also fosters core competencies in physics, offering innovative insights and practical references for the digital transformation of physics experiment instruction.

Keywords
Simple pendulum motion
Magnetic force
VS Code
Funding
This study was supported by the Fujian Province Young and Middle-aged Scientists Fund (Project No.: JAT241138; JAT241139), the Fujian Province Youth Science Fund (Project No.: 2025J01313087), the Fujian Province Natural Science Fund General Project (Project No.: 2025J011015), and the Longyan University Doctoral Research Startup Projects 2025 (Project No.: LB2025002; LB2025009).
References

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[3] Zhang XP, Han RX, 2020, Design of an Online Teaching Plan for University Physics Laboratory Courses Under the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of the “DIY Pendulum Motion Experiment”. University Physics Experiment, (33): 137–140.

[4] Chen CN, Kong WG, Cao JW, et al., 2020, Exploration of Practical Teaching for C Programming Based on Visual Studio Code. Computer Education, (05): 43–47.

[5] Liu LJ, Kou K, 2021, Research on an Experimental Teaching Model Based on Visual Studio Code: A Case Study of “Microcomputer Principles” Laboratory Teaching. Modern Information Technology, (5): 96–99, 102.

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