A simple pendulum consists of a small metallic ball or a piece of stone, called the bob, suspended from a rigid stand by a thread such that it is free to swing back and forth. The time period of a simple pendulum is the time taken for one complete oscillation. Factors that affect its time period:

1. Length of the pendulum: A longer pendulum has a longer time period.
2. Acceleration due to gravity: The time period is inversely proportional to the square root of gravity. Factors that do not affect its time period (for small amplitudes):
3. Mass of the bob: Within reasonable limits, changing the mass of the bob does not change the time period.
4. Amplitude of oscillation: For small angles of swing, the time period remains largely independent of the amplitude.