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Physics 1A / Higher Physics 1A / Higher Physics 1A (Special)

Experimental Physics – Investigation 1

The Pendulum

Introduction
A good physics experimental design will minimise the uncertainties in the quantities measured as much as possible.
This exercise is designed to help you understand:
 the role of uncertainties in the design of experiments
 the importance of repeating a measurement
 how to use the gradient of a straight line graph to obtain an accurate value.
What you will need
To undertake this exercise, you will the following items:
 At least 0.50 metres of string or thread
 An object with a mass about 50 grams (which we will call a “bob”) that you can tie to one end of the string
 A ruler or tape measure (a long ruler 30 cm or more would be ideal)
 A stopwatch or timer that can read to hundredths of a second (that is, “00:00.00”) (an app on a smart phone is
sufficient)
 Some way of suspending the string so that the pendulum is free to swing beneath it.
Presenting your responses and showing your working

The size of the spaces indicates the expected length of response. If you are typing into the PDF form, please avoid
typing a response larger than the space provided.

Some spaces have been provided in this exercise for you to show your working. If you are planning to print these
notes out (and then scan them for submission), you can write your working in these spaces. However, if you intend to
enter your responses directly into this PDF form, then you can insert photos of your working into the spaces. Please
ensure that the photos clearly show only the relevant working (you may need to crop or magnify your photos to do
this).

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 Maintaining the integrity of your own work
Your details

Name Leon Yangdong

zID Z5481443

Photographic evidence

You must include a photograph of yourself with your student card, your equipment and a piece of paper clearly
showing the date, your name, student number and your UNSW photo ID card.

The photo below shows an acceptable example. Also, include a second photo of your UNSW photo ID card with your
name and photo clearly visible. Important note: You MUST provide these photos with your work. Work without the
photos will not be marked.

< Sample photo of equipment—your face, your student

card and paper with your name, student number and
date. You also need to include a close up of your
student card.

Insert photo – student with experimental set up Insert photo – Student card

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 Before the experiment
Read the following information before you attempt the experiment.
The following information may be helpful:

Pendulum equation, where T is its period and l is its length. 𝑇=2𝜋𝑙𝑔

−2
Acceleration due to gravity at Earth’s surface (accepted value) g=9.80 m s

Straight line equation where a is its gradient and b is its y-

y=ax+ b
intercept

Estimating uncertainty
—in measurements made directly with a device
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Uncertainty =± × smallest graduation of the device that you can confidently read
2
Sometimes the smallest graduation on the measuring device cannot be read confidently, e.g. in a ruler marked
millimetres and centimetres, parallax might mean that you can only measure accurately to the nearest centimetre –
use this as “the smallest graduation” instead.

—in an average value made from repeated trials

largest trial−smallest trial
Uncertainty =±
2

—in the gradient of a line of best fit

max worst fit gradient −min worst fit gradient

Uncertainty =±
2

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 Combining dependent uncertainties
When Example Method
a=b+ c
Adding or subtracting ∆ a=∆ b+ ∆ c
a=b−c
a=b × c
∆a ∆ b ∆ c
Multiplying or dividing b = +
a= a b c
c

Combining independent uncertainties

When Example Method
a=b+ c
Adding or subtracting ∆ a= √ ¿ ¿
a=b−c

√(
a=b × c
) ( )
∆b 2 ∆c 2
b ∆a
Multiplying or dividing
a= = +
c a b c

Conducting the experiment

Risk Assessment
It is important that you read and understand the risk assessment below.

Associated Risk rating with

Tasks Hazards Risk controls
risks controls

Suspending Ensure that the mass is not unreasonably

an object with Falling object Foot injury heavy and is suspended by string of Low
mass sufficient strength

Tying knots
Constriction
and Avoid winding string around fingers and
Entanglement of body parts, Medium
manipulating parts of the body
strangulation
string

Swinging the Collision

Moving object Keep well clear of the swinging bob Low
pendulum injury

By proceeding with the experiment you are agreeing to follow these risk control methods and conduct the experiment
safely. If you have any doubts about your ability to complete the experiment safely then you should not proceed –
contact your course convenor.

Check this box to signify that you agree to follow these risk controls. Your work will not be marked if
you have not agreed to these conditions.

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 Part A—Finding g and Δg from one pair of data
1. Tie your bob to one end of the string and tie the other end to your suspension point. Do not cut your string at this
stage.

Measure the length of your pendulum from the centre of mass of your bob to the suspension point.

Record the length of your pendulum (with units!) 30cm

Can you measure the length with your ruler in one go? Or do you need to measure the length in stages? Record
what you did.

Putting one end of the string under the glue stick cap (the bob), the string was measured out 30cm the from the
edge of the cap to where the yarn attached to its ball. This was done so while the bob was hung above the ground,
so as to have the tension and the length of the string be the same when the string was attached to the point to be
hung at (under the table).
At this point, the string was cut, leaving a length value of 30 cm.
This way, an easy to evaluate measurement of 30cm was achieved.

Determine the uncertainty in the length of your pendulum.

 If you had to measure your pendulum in stages, you will have to combine the uncertainty of each staged
measurement (remember, you have added multiple dependent measurements).

Uncertainty in length, ∆ l ± 0.5 mm

Briefly explain how you determined this uncertainty

The only uncertain part of this measuring process was the ruler measuring part where the resolution (mm)of the
ruler was the only uncertainty. This was calculated by finding the least count (1mm / 2 = 0.5mm).

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 2. Set your pendulum swinging, ensuring that it does so with a small swing angle (less than about 10°). Measure the
time taken for ten periods (a period is one back and forth swing).
Repeat this measurement two more times so that you have three trials.
Record them in the table below.

Ten periods, 10 T (s)

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

9.67 8.77 8.98

3. Use your trials to calculate the time for one period in each trial. Calculate the average period over the three trials,
max−min
and its uncertainty, given that uncertainty=
2

Period, T (s)

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average Uncertainty

0.97 0.88 0.90 0.92 0.05

4. Use your value for l from step 1 and T from step 3 to calculate a value for g.
Working space

⚠ When taking a photo to insert into this form, remember to turn your phone sideways so that the image is in
landscape orientation. Try to get only the relevant working in the frame and with sufficient magnification so
that the demonstrator can clearly read your work.

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 5. Now, to calculate uncertainty in T2. Remember, when you use uncertain numbers in a calculation, the uncertainty
in the result is larger.

In step 3, you determined the uncertainty in the period, ∆ T . However, since you will have used T 2 in your
calculation for g, you need to find the uncertainty in period-squared, ∆ T 2, which will be larger.

Note that T 2=T ×T . Will T and T have dependent or independent uncertainties?

Which equation should you use to calculate the a b c

uncertainty in ∆ T 2?

∆ a=∆ b+ ∆ c
Which values (T ,T 2) correspond to the letters in your
∆ a= √¿ ¿ chosen uncertainty equation?
∆a ∆ b ∆ c
= +
a b c

√( ) ( )
∆b 2 ∆c 2
∆a
= +
a b c

Write your uncertainty, ∆ T 2

Working space

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 6. Use your values for ∆ l and ∆ T 2 to calculate uncertainty ∆ g

Which equation should you use to calculate the a b c

uncertainty in ∆ g ? Hint: are l and T 2 dependent or
independent?

∆ a=∆ b+ ∆ c Which values (l, T 2, g) correspond to the letters in your

chosen uncertainty equation?
∆ a= √¿ ¿
∆a ∆ b ∆ c
= +
a b c

√( ) ( )
∆b 2 ∆c 2
∆a
= +
a b c

Working space

7. Write your measured value with uncertainty here. Don’t forget units!

Acceleration due to gravity on Earth, g ± ∆ g ±

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 8. Answer these questions:
Explain why the time for ten periods was measured for each trial instead of just one.

Does your value for g agree with the accepted value? How did you assess this?

Part B—Finding g using a line of best fit (linear regression)

1. Measure the time for 10 periods for an additional 4 different pendulum lengths (use your trials from Part A for
the first row of data). As before, conduct 3 trials for each length.

Note that the relative uncertainty of 10 T is the same as the relative uncertainty of T , that is

∆ T ∆10 T
=
T 10 T

Complete the table below.

Length (m) 10 Periods (s) 1 Period (s) Period2 (s2)

2 2
l ∆l Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Av ∆ 10 T T ∆T T ∆T

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 2. We can use the data collected to plot a linear graph. Given that

T =2 π
√ l
g
derive an equation that relates T and l . Your equation should be in the linear equation form, so the variables might
not be plotted in their natural forms. The gradient should contain the acceleration due to gravity, g. (We have
given you a hint)

T2 = ×
y gradient x

You should now have an idea of what data to plot of the X- and Y-axes of your graph.
To analyse the data, follow the following instructions:
 Access and open the Microsoft Excel template called Linear Plot with Uncertainties.xls
 Enter the column headings for each variable. Ensure that you have correctly named the quantities being
plotted AND the units in the appropriate cells (the graph labels are linked to these).
 Clear the data table of all values and then enter your data.
 In the space below, insert a screenshot of the spreadsheet that includes the data table, the graph and the
equations.

Insert the screenshot of your Excel spreadsheet here. Ensure that the image includes the equations generated below the
graph.

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 3. Using the gradient of your line of best fit, calculate a value for acceleration due to gravity, g.
Working space

4. Using the lines of worst fit, calculate the uncertainty in the line of best fit, and hence the uncertainty in your value
for g.
Hint: the relative uncertainty in the gradient is equal to the relative uncertainty in g, that is:
∆ g ∆ gradient
=
g gradient
Working space

5. Report your value for acceleration due to gravity here, with its uncertainty and units.
Does this value for g agree with the accepted value? How did you assess this?

Acceleration due to gravity, g ± ∆ g, with units 

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 6. Answer these questions:
Which method (single pair of data substitution versus drawing a line of best fit) would you expect to give a more
accurate answer? Is this borne out by your results?

Suggest some improvements to this experiment, in terms of the experimental design and techniques (not just
“better equipment”).

— END OF EXPERIMENT —

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 Submission

Ensure that:

 You have written a statement saying that you will follow the risk controls recommended in the risk
assessment
 You have included photographs of you with your student card, a piece of paper with the date, name and
student number, and the equipment
 A close up photograph of your student card
 All the relevant results and calculations in the have been recorded in the spaces provided
 Answers to questions are completed.

Marking rubric

Criteria Possible marks

0
Statement that you will follow risk controls
but will not be
Clear photographic evidence that you have conducted the investigation
marked without
A close up of your student card
these
Part A
Measured the pendulum length and stated the method for doing so 1
Determined the uncertainty in pendulum length 1
Recorded three trials of 10T 1
Calculated average period, T 1
Calculated the uncertainty in the average period, ΔT 1
Selected the correct equation to calculate uncertainty and identified the appropriate quantities
1
to substitute into that equation
Determined g ± Δg 2
Answers questions in Step 8 2
Part B
Selected the correct uncertainty equation and quantities for T 2 1
Completed results table for length, 10T and T 2
Completed results table for T2 and ΔT2 1
Correctly identified the axis quantities for the linear plot 1
Recorded the lines of best fit and worst fit 1
Recorded a value for g and its uncertainty that has been determined using this graphical
2
method
Answered questions in Step 6 2
Total 20

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