Title: The Pendulum

Name: Karole Collier

Partners: Amanda, (Russian) Mike, & Josh

Purpose: 1.) To determine the factors that affect the period of a pendulum; and

2.) To use a pendulum to determine the local value of the accerleration.

Equipment: STAND & CLAMP

METER STICK

STRING (or THREAD)

PENDULUM BOB

STOPWATCH

Procedure:

1.) Choose a bob and make a pendulum that is 0.50m long. Pull the bob 5® to 10® to one side and release it. Measure and record the time required for the pendulum to make 10 complete swings. Repeat this a second time and average the results.

2.) Repeat step 1 (↑) for pendulums of lengths 0.45m, 0.40m, 0.35m , 0.30m, 0.25m, 0.20m, 0.15m, 0.10m and 0.05m.

3.) Change the pendulum bob. Make another pendulum 0.50m long. Measure and record the time required for 10 swings.

4.) Returning equipment.

Calculations:

2.) Graph the period (dependent) vs. the length (independent). (0,0) Being the last data point

B.) Graph the period vs. the square root of the length. (Square root is 0.5 exponent)

C.) These graphs suggest that the values still have the same ratio therefore the graphs are the same. (Maybe suggesting the values are interchangeable?)

3.) The Equation for the period of a pendulum is :

a.) Solve the equation for “g”. Showing all Algebra STEPS!

b.) Calculate the acceleration of gravity, g using your “best” data point.

c.) Calculate Percentage Error.

Conclusion:

1. Does changing the pendulum bob appear to have any significant effect on the period of the pendulum? Do you think it should? Explain why or why not?

2. Why does a giant (Foucault) pendulum at the Franklin Institute swing so slowly?

3. Explain how and what you learned in this activity would affect how you design a children’s swing set.

4. (Solving) How long must the pendulum in a grandfather clock be so that it takes one (1) second to swing from left to right?