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Lab 6 - Simple Pendulum

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48 views5 pages

Lab 6 - Simple Pendulum

Uploaded by

samueldeegan0130
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Simple Pendulum

Objective: In this lab, you determine the relationship between the pendulum period and the
length of the pendulum. Please make sure that to keep the amplitude small enough so the
variation with amplitude is negligible. From the relationship that you find between the period
and the length, measure the gravitational field strength (gravitational acceleration which is equal
to 9.80 m/s2).

Introduction: The simple pendulum consists of a small, dense mass, called a bob, suspended by
a nearly weightless cord from a fixed point. Pendulum bob can swing freely. Assume that there is
no air friction. As the pendulum swings from one side to other and back again it said to be
completed one cycle or one oscillation. The time required to complete one cycle is called period
(T) of the pendulum. The length L of the pendulum is measured from the center of suspension to
the center of gravity of the pendulum bob.

Materials: A pendulum (a weight suspended from a string), a stop watch or a timer, a measuring
tape or ruler
Theory: For a small angle ( ) or a small amplitude oscillation, the period of the pendulum is
given by

Where g (= 9.8 m/s2) is the gravitational acceleration. By squaring both side of the equation, we
obtain
Procedure:

1. Set up the pendulum by tying a weight (such as a small ball) to a string.


2. Measure the length of the string from the point where it is suspended to the center of the
weight. Please choose the length given on the data table below.
3. Pull the pendulum aside and release it so that it can swing back an forth.
4. Using the timer, measure the time for one oscillation (period). By pressing the reset
button on the timer, repeat the time measurement five times.
5. Record these measurements on the data table below.
6. Repeat steps 2 – 5 for pendulum length given on the data table below.
7. Calculate the average period tavg for each pendulum length.
8. Plot a graph for the length L (m) (on the y axis) versus (Tavg)2 (s2) (on the x axis) with

2(AAD) error bar. Slope of the graph is equal to . From the slope of the graph,
calculate the gravitational acceleration g.

Data Table:

Table 1

L (m) t1 (s) t2 (s) t3 (s) t4 (s) t5 (s) tavg (s) (tavg)2 (s2)

0.20
.884 .883 .884 .884 .883 .884 .781
0.40
1.248 1.249 1.249 1.249 1.248 1.299 1.559
0.50
1.42 1.42 1.42 1.42 1.42 1.42 2.016
0.60
1.541 1.542 1.541 1.540 1.541 1.541 2.372
0.80
1.782 1.782 1.782 1.782 1.782 1.782 3.176
1.00
2.003 2.002 2.002 2.004 2.003 2.003 4.012
Calculation:

Analyze the graph and draw conclusions about the length of the pendulum and its period of
oscillations. What If? You plot a graph L (m) versus tavg. Is it a linear relation between the length
and the period?

Calculation of g, the gravitational acceleration.

(Show your calculation)

4pi^2 *.248 = 9.79

Gravitational Acceleration, g = ___9.79____ m/s2


Theoretical (actual) value of the gravitational acceleration = 9.80 m/s2

Percent Error Calculation:

Percent error = %
(Show your calculation)

(|9.80 - 9.79| / 9.80)*100 = 1.02%

Percent Error = ___1.02_____%

Questions:

1. What are the possible sources of errors in this experiment?

A. Air resistance can slow the period of the pendulum however any air resistance would be
negligible in the classroom setting given the amplitude of the pendulum. Instrumental
error can incorrectly gauge the period time, experimental error from improper setup
measurements of the length of the string can also cause error.

2. Would the period of a particular pendulum be the same on the moon as on Earth?
Explain.

A. No because the gravitational acceleration is different in both places

3. What effect does the mass of the ball have on the period of a simple pendulum? What
would be the effect of replacing the steel ball with a wooden ball, a lead ball, and a ping
pong ball of the same size?
A. No, because mass does not affect the period of the pendulum, only the length and angle
when the angle is above 15 degrees can.

4. What role, if any, does air resistance have on your results? Explain your reasoning.

A. Air resistance likely had some effect, but it’s effect was likely very small, this is because
there is not much surface area on the ball that was dropped, and the amplitude is
relatively small, therefore the air resistance is likely small as well.

5. Would you conclude that Galileo was correct in his observation that the period of a
simple pendulum depends only on the length of the pendulum?

A. If we were to go solely on our observations I would have to answer yes, because all data
was collected from pendulums that had an angle of less than 15 degrees.

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