Simple Pendulum Experiment

In this experiment you will make a simple pendulum consisting of a plumb bob and a piece
of string anchored at two points. By attaching the string to two points the normal precession
that would occur will be eliminated.

Lengt
h

T = 2 π √ (L/g)
T2 = 4 π2 (L/g)
Where T = period,
g = 9.807 m/s2,
and L = length

Items to be turned in as report:

1) all discussion question answers (be thorough)
2) graph of period squared versus length
3) simple data tables of collected data
4) graphical analysis answers
5) using your values for g, calculate average deviation and average percent error (using
9.807 m/s2 as theoretical value)
6) overall conclusions about the experiment (using normal lab report conclusion format)
 The Simple Pendulum: An Exercise in Measurement and Graphical Analysis

A phenomena which repeats some action over and over again in a regular way is said to be periodic. The time
for such a system to exactly complete the repetitive action once is called the period. For example, the period of the
Earth in its orbit is one year and the period of your heartbeat is about one second. Periodic phenomena are very
common in nature and when they are sufficiently reliable they are sometimes used to measure time. One of the
simplest devices which exhibit periodic motion is the simple pendulum. A simple pendulum consists of a heavy
object suspended by a light weight string. If you displace the bob to one side and release it, then the period is the time
for the bob to return to the point of release. This lab exercise uses a simple pendulum to illustrate how one can
learn something about natural phenomena by a combination of measurement and graphical analysis.

This simple experiment illustrates a technique used by scientist in many fields. The scientist wishes to
understand some physical system which in this case is the simple pendulum. He identifies some important property of
the system like the period of the pendulum. Then he tries to determine how this quantity depends on other parameters
of the system. In this case the other parameters might be the weight of bob, the length of the pendulum, the size of the
arc through which the pendulum swings, and possibly other things. He varies a parameter (say the weight of the bob
or length of the string) and measures the value of the important quantity (the period) for each value. The scientist is
careful to keep all other properties the same. Then he varies another parameter and so on.

Using the methods of a scientist, you will attempt to learn how the period of pendulum depends on its length
and the arc swing angle. In order to measure the period of the pendulum, measure the amount of time for 20 complete
swings. To eliminate one source of error, do not use the first swing. Start timing and counting when the pendulum
bob returns to its starting point. Use any available timers. Repeat this three times and average your total times. The
period of the pendulum is then the total time measured divided by 20 (i.e., the amount of time for one swing.) The
length of the pendulum is the distance from the point of support to the center of mass of the bob. Using the same mass
you should measure the period for 4 different lengths, ranging from 0.20 m to 1.50 m. The second variable will be the
swing arc angle. For each length of string use two different arc angles (found drawn on the cardboard protractors.)
Remember that the arc angle must be kept rather small to assure accurate results and that by using the same angles for
each length you can make comparisons much more easily. Rather than actually measuring the mass of the bob we will
hold that variable constant. A good modification of the experiment would be to change the amount of mass of the bob
and measure the period again for two to three of the lengths already used.

All data should be recorded in the table. Remember that period squared is a calculated value. Always record
your measured quantities as you make the measurement. Calculations should be performed later.

In order to see more clearly what the data shows, you need to make some graphs. Use the computer program
“Graphical Analysis” to do your graphing. Plot the period as a function of length of the pendulum. Also plot the
period squared as a function of the length of the pendulum. This graph must also be done on paper. The length
will be on the x-axis and period (or period squared) on the vertical or y-axis.

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you obtain a straight line for any of your plots?

2. Can you write an equation for that line?

3. How does the period, T, depend on length?

4. By interpolating from your graph determine the period of a simple pendulum 27 cm long.

5. By extrapolating determine the length of a pendulum which has a period of 7.66 seconds.
You may have to use your equation rather than the graph itself.

6. Using your data and the formulas given below (formula #1) solve for g. We know that the actual value is
9.807 m/s2. Using your values for g, calculate the percent error in your lab.
 The following are general equations for simple pendulums:

formula #1: T = 2 π √ (L/g) where T = period, L = length, and g = 9.807 m/s2

formula #2: T2 = 4 π 2 (L/g)

For further information: The motion of this type pendulum is simple harmonic in character with a period proportional
to the square root of the pendulum's length and independent on the mass of the bob.

Use the computer program Graphical Analysis to plot the two graphs using your table of data. Look at the statistical
information the computer program can provide and make an attempt to correlate that information with your collected
data. See information given below to help with this part of the lab.

Graphical Analysis for Windows Section

Double click on the "X" in the data table. Here you will name the variable and its units. Do the same for
the "Y" variable

Input data for each variable.

Click on the F (x) button on the task bar. Type the in the name of the new column, "Period Squared" and
the units "s^2". You now need to give a formula for this data. Click on the "columns" button and pick
"period". Then press the "^2" button on the keypad. Press "OK".

On the graph window, double click on "Period (s)". Click the box beside "Period Squared" then press "OK".

Select all data on the graph by dragging a dotted box around every point.

Click on Analyze on the menu bar. Then Regression. Click on "Period", then on "OK". Repeat for "Period
Squared".

This data box gives the Correlation (Corr), the slope (m), and the y-intercept (b).

Use the data in the boxes to finish answering the question from the experiment.

Teacher Initial for Graph _______________

Correlation of Period: ______________ Slope of Period vs. Length _______________

Correlation of Period2 :_____________ Slope of Period2 vs. Length _______________

Pendulum Data Sheet Name: __________________ Class: ______________

Length #1: _____________ m

Time (20 periods) T (s) T2 (s2) g (m/s2) % error

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

Length #2: _____________ m

Time (20 periods) T (s) T2 (s2) g (m/s2) % error

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

Length #3: _____________ m

Time (20 periods) T (s) T2 (s2) g (m/s2) % error

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

Length #4: _____________ m

Time (20 periods) T (s) T2 (s2) g (m/s2) % error

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________

_______________ ______ ______ ___________ __________