Experiment 08: The effect of changing the length of a pendulum on its Period

Mechanics: Period of a pendulum; scientific method

Data Studio file: 09.Period of Pendulum.ds

Equipment List

1 PASCO Interface (for one sensor)

1 Motion Sensor on ch 1 and 2
1 Photogate Pendulum Set
1 Pendulum Clamp
1 Rod
1 String, spool
1 Measuring tape
1 Protractor
1 Large Rod Base

Introduction
The purpose of this activity is to measure the period of a simple pendulum and to
use scientific methods to determine the relationships between the period of a
pendulum and its length, the mass of the pendulum, and the amplitude of the
pendulum. Use the Motion Sensor to measure the motion of the pendulum as it
swings back and forth. Use Data Studio to record and display the data.
A simple pendulum consists of a particle of mass m, called the pendulum “bob”. It
is attached to a string of length L that has negligible mass. When the ‘bob’ is
pulled away from its equilibrium position by an angle and released, it swings back
and forth. The period, T, is the amount of time for a complete swing back-and-
forth (e.g., from position 1 to position 3 and back to position 1, as in diagram
above). The frequency f, is the number of complete swings per unit of time. The
period is the reciprocal of the frequency. The period of pendulum is measured
according to the equation below:

𝐋
𝐓 = 𝟐𝛑√
𝐠
Squaring the above expression, we get:

𝐋
𝐓 𝟐 = 𝟒𝛑𝟐
𝐠

Hence we can also find the value of “g” acceleration due to gravity from the above
expression:
𝐋
𝐠 = 𝟒𝛑𝟐 𝟐
𝐓
Calculation and result

Record your observations in the data table given below. Also attach the table and
graph of T2 and L. T2
Actual value of g = 9.8m/s2
Part A
Data Table
Effect of length

Time for 10 oscillations Time Period

Length T2 (s2)
L (m) T(s)
t1 (s) t2 (s) taverage(s)
0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70
0.80

Calculate gexp = 4𝜋 2 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 % error =

Part B
For a length of 80cm and find the time period by using motion sensor
Length L (0.80m) Time for one oscillation, T

𝐿
Also Calculate gexp = 4𝜋 2 % error =
𝑇2
Questions

1. What happens to the period of a pendulum if its amplitude ( the angle ) changes
slightly, what happens to the period if its length changes, what happens to the
period if it’s mass changes?

2. Why is it important to hold the mass and amplitude constant when testing the
effect of length on the period of the pendulum?

3. Did you prove the relation between time period and length of the pendulum?
Explain
4. What were your predictions before starting the experiment? Does your result
match your predictions before the experiment?

5. What should you do to the length of the string of a simple pendulum to double
its period?

6. A little girl is sitting on a swing and swings back and forth with a period of 3.0
seconds. If she stands up on the swing the period of her swing will be.
a) Longer b) shorter c) unaffected.
7. The acceleration of gravity gets smaller as you increase your distance from the
center of the Earth. For example, if you go to a height that is one earth radius
above the surface of the earth the acceleration of gravity is 2.45 m/s2 (g/4.0). Is the
period of a pendulum longer or shorter?

8. The frequency of a pendulum is (1/Period). That is, if the period is the number
of second per cycle the frequency is the number of cycles per second. Another
name for cycles per second is Hertz (Hz). What is the frequency of a pendulum
that has a period of 0.5s?
Discussion and conclusion: