Scribd
Upload
798 views6 pages

Pendulum Lab

This experiment investigates the relationship between the period of oscillation of a chain of paper clips and the number of paper clips in the chain. The experiment measures the time for 20 oscillations of chains with varying numbers of paper clips. The results show a linear relationship between the log of the period and the log of the number of paper clips. Analysis of the line of best fit gives values for the constants p and q in the equation T=pnq, confirming the linear relationship. Sources of error include environmental factors and human reaction time, which are addressed through precautions.

Uploaded by

David Benjaming
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
798 views6 pages

Pendulum Lab

This experiment investigates the relationship between the period of oscillation of a chain of paper clips and the number of paper clips in the chain. The experiment measures the time for 20 oscillations of chains with varying numbers of paper clips. The results show a linear relationship between the log of the period and the log of the number of paper clips. Analysis of the line of best fit gives values for the constants p and q in the equation T=pnq, confirming the linear relationship. Sources of error include environmental factors and human reaction time, which are addressed through precautions.

Uploaded by

David Benjaming
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

NAME: David-Benjamin Ogilvie

DATE: 24/11/2021
TITLE: Pendulum
AIM: To investigate the relationship between the period of a chain of oscillating
paper clips with the number paper clips in the chain.

APPARATUS: Clamp stand, paper clips, stopwatch

THEORY:
The period (T) of an oscillating pendulum will vary according to the length of the
pendulum. The period of an oscillation, T, is the time taken for one complete
oscillation. For a pendulum made from paperclips the length (l) is dependent upon
the number of paperclips (n).

This relationship is given as the equation T= pnq where:


T = period of oscillation
n = number of paper clips
p and q are constants

Diagram:

VARIABLES:
Manipulated – length of paper clip chain
Controlled – number of oscillations
Responding – time period of oscillation

METHOD:
1. 25 paper clips were chained together and placed on the clamp stand.
2. It was swung at approximately 45 degrees from the clamp stand.
3. Stopwatch was used to record the time for 20 complete oscillations
4. Steps 2-3 were repeated removing 2 clips at a time until a total of 7 clips were left.
5. A suitable table of the findings was made.
6. A suitable graph of the findings was then recorded.

RESULTS:

TABLE SHOWING RESULTS OF THE OSCILATION OF A CHAIN OF


PAPERCLIPS OF VARYING LENGTH
n t/s t/20=T/s Log n Log T

25 34.31 1.72 1.40 0.236

23 33.22 1.66 1.36 0.220

21 31.47 1.57 1.32 0.196

19 29.78 1.49 1.28 0.173

17 28.09 1.40 1.23 0.146

15 26.50 1.33 1.18 0.124

13 23.85 1.19 1.11 0.0755

11 21.97 1.10 1.04 0.0414

9 19.69 0.98 0.954 -0.00877

7 17.13 0.86 0.845 -0.0655


ANALYSIS/DISCUSSIONS:

1. Make T= pnq into a linear equation.


T= pnq
log10T= log10(pn)q
log10T= log10(p)(n)q
log10T= log10(p) + log10(n)q
log10T= log10(p) + (q)log10(n)
log10T= (q)log10(n) + log10(p)

log10T = (q)log10(n) + log10(p)


≡
y = m(x) + c
y = Log10(T)
m=q
x = Log10(n)
c = Log10(p)

2. Calculate the Gradient

Y 2−Y 1
=m(Gradient)
X 2−X 1

−0.0655−0.236
=m
0.845−1.40

−0.3015
=m
−0.5 55

0. 543=m

3. Value for q

y = m(x) + c
≡
log10T = (q)log10(n) + log10(p)
m=q
0.543 = q
4. What is the Y intercept?

log10T = (q)log10(n) + log10(p)


≡
y = m(x) + c
0.236 = 0.543(1.40) + c
0.236 = 0.760 + c
0.236 – 0.760 = c
-0.524 = c

The y-intercept is -0.524

5. What is the value of p?

log10T = (q)log10(n) + log10(p)


≡
y = m(x) + c
0.236 = 0.543(1.40) + c
0.236 = 0.760 + c
0.236 – 0.760 = c
-0.524 = c = log10(p)
-0.524 = log10(p)
10-0.524 = p
0.299 = p

p is 0.299

SOURCES OF ERROR:

1. Environmental error - An environmental error is an error in calculations that


are being a part of observations due to environment (E.g., Breeze blowing into
the lab affecting the swing of a pendulum)
2. Reaction time Error – A Reaction Time error is an error in the recording of
data due to human reaction time (E.g., Starting a stopwatch 200 milliseconds
late due to human reaction time)

PRECAUTIONS
1. Turn off all fans, close all doors and reduce as much external interference
toward the experiment as possible to reduce the error dur to external influence.
2. Have all 3 group members record a time for each length of paperclip chain
and use the average time between the members as the time for 20 oscillations to
account for differences in reaction time.
CONCLUSION:

The relationship between the period of a chain of oscillating paper clips with the
number paper clips in the chain was found to be a linear relationship. This finding
was found through using the data gathered from the method listed, putting that data
into the equation T= pnq then rearranging the function into log10T = (q)log10(n) +
log10(p) which is representative of a linear function of form y = m(x) + c . To check if
the relationship between the period of a chain of oscillating paper clips with the
number paper clips in the chain was a linear relationship the equation log 10T =
(q)log10(n) + log10(p) was plotted on a graph where it was found that it was a linear
relationship.

You might also like