Scribd
Upload
9 views4 pages

The Simple Pendulum Lab

The Simple Pendulum Lab investigates the factors affecting the period of a simple pendulum, focusing on the effects of length and mass. Students will measure the period of oscillation, analyze data, and draw conclusions about pendulum motion. The lab includes procedures for data collection, analysis, and discussion questions to enhance understanding of pendulum behavior.

Uploaded by

Orlando Argueta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
9 views4 pages

The Simple Pendulum Lab

The Simple Pendulum Lab investigates the factors affecting the period of a simple pendulum, focusing on the effects of length and mass. Students will measure the period of oscillation, analyze data, and draw conclusions about pendulum motion. The lab includes procedures for data collection, analysis, and discussion questions to enhance understanding of pendulum behavior.

Uploaded by

Orlando Argueta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

The Simple Pendulum Lab

Introduction

In this lab, we will explore the behavior of a simple pendulum and investigate the factors that
affect its period of oscillation. A simple pendulum consists of a mass (bob) suspended from a
fixed point by a lightweight, inextensible string.

Objectives

By the end of this lab, students will be able to:


1. Measure the period of a simple pendulum
2. Investigate the relationship between pendulum length and period
3. Explore the effect of mass on the pendulum's period
4. Analyze data and draw conclusions about pendulum motion

Materials

- String (about 2 meters)


- Various masses (50g, 100g, 200g)
- Meter stick or measuring tape
- Stopwatch or timer
- Stand or support to hang the pendulum
- Protractor

Procedure

Part 1: Effect of Length on Period

1. Set up the pendulum with a 50g mass and a length of 25 cm.


2. Pull the pendulum back to a small angle (about 10°) and release it.
3. Time 10 complete oscillations and record the total time in the data table.
4. Calculate the period (time for one oscillation) by dividing the total time by 10.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 two more times for accuracy.
6. Repeat the entire process for lengths of 50 cm, 75 cm, and 100 cm.

Part 2: Effect of Mass on Period

1. Keep the pendulum length constant at 50 cm.


2. Repeat steps 2-5 from Part 1 using masses of 50g, 100g, and 200g.

Data Collection

Table 1: Effect of Length on Period (Mass = 50g)

Length Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average Period


(cm) (s) (s) (s) (s)

25

50

75

100

Table 2: Effect of Mass on Period (Length = 50 cm)

Mass Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average Period


(g) (s) (s) (s) (s)

50

100

200
Data Analysis

1. Graph the relationship between pendulum length and period. Plot length on the x-axis and
period on the y-axis.
2. Calculate the percent difference in period between the shortest and longest pendulum
lengths.
3. Graph the relationship between mass and period. Plot mass on the x-axis and period on the
y-axis.
4. Calculate the percent difference in period between the lightest and heaviest masses.

Questions for Discussion

1. How does the length of the pendulum affect its period? Is the relationship linear or non-linear?
2. Does the mass of the pendulum bob significantly affect the period? Explain your reasoning
based on your data.
3. What sources of error might have affected your results? How could you minimize these errors
in future experiments?
4. Based on your results, can you propose a mathematical relationship between pendulum
length and period?
5. In what real-world applications might understanding pendulum motion be important?

Conclusion

Summarize your findings and relate them to the objectives of the lab. Discuss any unexpected
results and propose ideas for further investigation.

You might also like