A compound pendulum is a type of pendulum that consists of a rigid body swinging about a pivot point that is not at its center of mass. Unlike a simple pendulum, which is typically a point mass on a string, a compound pendulum can have various shapes and sizes, making its motion more complex. The motion of a compound pendulum is influenced by its mass distribution and the distance from the pivot to its center of mass. The period of a compound pendulum can be calculated using the formula that incorporates its moment of inertia and the distance to the center of mass. This concept is important in physics and engineering, as it helps in understanding the dynamics of various systems, such as clocks, seesaws, and mechanical devices.