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Name:_________________
Pendulum Lab Date:________
Keywords
Frequency(f ) Hz Bob ”mass” Kg
Hertz (Hz) Length (L) m
Amplitude(A) m Oscillation
m Center of Mass
Gravity(g) 9.8
s ²❑
Equipment ● Stopwatch
● String ● Meter stick
● 2 masses-100g and 200g ● Protractor
Equation
¿ oscillations
f=
time(seconds)
Goals
Predictions (circle)
1. What will happen to frequency if you increase the mass of the bob?
increase/decrease/no change
2. What will happen to frequency if you release the mass at a larger angle (amplitude) from
the center?
increase/decrease/no change
3. What will happen to frequency if you make the string longer?
increase/decrease/no change
4. What will happen to frequency if you decrease the mass of the bob?
increase/decrease/no change
5. What will happen to frequency if you release the mass at a smaller angle (amplitude)
from the center?
increase/decrease/no change
6. What will happen to frequency if you make the string shorter?
increase/decrease/no change
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Lab Procedure
1. After finishing the first page. Go to lab stations that you are assigned to with your

partner.

2. Trial 1-Set up the pendulum with a length of 1 meter with the 100 gram mass. (measure

from the center of the mass)

3. Release mass at an angle of 15 degrees. Use stopwatch to find the time it takes to make
10 oscillations. Calculate frequency. (3 numbers)
10 oscillations
f= f =¿_______Hz
time( )

4. Enter your time and frequency into trial number 1

5. Trial 2-Set up the pendulum with a length of 1 meter with the 100 gram mass. (measure

from the center of the mass)

6. Release mass at an angle of 30 degrees. Use stopwatch to find the time it takes to make

10 oscillations. Calculate frequency. (3 numbers)

10 oscillations
f= f =¿_______Hz
time()

7. Enter your time and frequency into trial number 2

8. Trial 3-Set up the pendulum with a length of 1 meter with the 200 gram mass. (measure

from the center of the mass)

9. Release mass at an angle of 15 degrees. Use stopwatch to find the time it takes to make
10 oscillations. Calculate frequency. (3 numbers)
10 oscillations
f= f =¿_______Hz
time( )

10. Enter your time and frequency into trial number 3

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11. Trial 4-Set up the pendulum with a length of 1 meter with the 200 gram mass. (measure

from the center of the mass)

12. Release mass at an angle of 30 degrees. Use stopwatch to find the time it takes to make
10 oscillations. Calculate frequency. (3 numbers)
10 oscillations
f= f =¿_______Hz
time( )

13. Enter your time and frequency into trial number 4

14. Trial 5-Set up the pendulum with a length of .5 meters with the 100 gram mass.

(measure from the center of the mass)

15. Release mass at an angle of 15 degrees. Use stopwatch to find the time it takes to make
10 oscillations. Calculate frequency. (3 numbers)
10 oscillations
f= f =¿_______Hz
time( )

16. Enter your time and frequency into trial number 5

17. Trial 6-Set up the pendulum with a length of .5 meters with the 100 gram mass.
(measure from the center of the mass)
18. Release mass at an angle of 30 degrees. Use stopwatch to find the time it takes to make
10 oscillations. Calculate frequency. (3 numbers)
10 oscillations
f= f =¿_______Hz
time( )

19. Enter your time and frequency into trial number 6

20. Trial 7-Set up the pendulum with a length of .5 meters with the 200 gram mass.
(measure from the center of the mass)
21. Release mass at an angle of 15 degrees. Use stopwatch to find the time it takes to make
10 oscillations. Calculate frequency. (3 numbers)
10 oscillations
f= f =¿_______Hz
time( )

22. Enter your time and frequency into trial number 7

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23. Trial 8-Set up the pendulum with a length of .5 meters with the 200 gram mass.

(measure from the center of the mass)

24. Release mass at an angle of 30 degrees. Use stopwatch to find the time it takes to make
10 oscillations. Calculate frequency. (3 numbers)
10 oscillations
f= f =¿_______Hz
time( )

25. Enter your time and frequency into trial number 8

Tables:

Trial Length Mass Angle Time Frequency

1 1 meter 100 grams 15 degrees s Hz
2 1 meter 100 grams 30 degrees s Hz
3 1 meter 200 grams 15 degrees s Hz
4 1 meter 200 grams 30 degrees s Hz

Trial Length Mass Angle Time Frequency

5 .5 meters 100 grams 15 degrees s Hz
6 .5 meters 100 grams 30 degrees s Hz
7 .5 meter 200 grams 15 degrees s Hz
8 .5 meters 200 grams 30 degrees s Hz

Questions
Answer the question in whether the frequency increased, decreased, or stayed the same.
1. What happened to the frequency when you changed the angle you released the pendulum
at? _The frequency of the pendulum remained consistent for both angles that they were
released at.
2. What happened to the frequency when you changed the mass that was on the the
pendulum? _With both of the release points being at the same angles, and length of the
string remaining the same, the frequency did not differentiate between the two masses
used.
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3. What happened to the frequency when you changed the length you released the
pendulum? _The frequency of the longer length was much shorter than that of the shorter
length pendulum. Both masses and release angles remained the same.

Extra Help
file:///D:/Student%20Data/Downloads/pendulum-lab_en.html
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/pendulum-lab/latest/pendulum-lab_en.html