MEC 100

Introduction to Engineering
ASSIGNMENT 2
Task [PO1 CO1] [PO6 CO2]
You are required to run a PENDULUM EXPERIMENT and write a complete lab report.
Submit on 1 August 2015.

Experiment 1
Objective:
To investigate the relationships between period and length of a pendulum

Theory:
The period of a pendulum are not depending on the mass of the pendulum or the amplitude.
Following equation shows that, the period, T have relationship upon the length.

T 2

l
g

where: T = period (s), l = length (m), and g = gravitational constant (m/s)

Apparatus:
1. Textbooks
2. A 20 cm string or rope
3. A table
4. A stopwatch
5. A weight as pendulum
(you can use anything. Example: a coffee mug)

Figure 1

Procedure:
1. Tie the string to the chosen pendulum.
2. Suspend the pendulum over the edge of the table so that the length of the pendulum as
shown in Figure 1.
3. Pull the weight back and let your pendulum start swinging. It is convenient and sufficient to
measure time/ period for 20 cycles.
4. Let the pendulum start swinging before you do the timing of the 20 cycles; in other words do
NOT try to release the pendulum and start the stopwatch simultaneously.
5. Then stop the pendulum and restart it, but this time pull it back only 3 cm initially so it is
swinging through a much shorter arc. Repeat step 3.
6. Then stop the pendulum and restart it, but this time pull it back only 8 cm initially so it is
swinging through a much shorter arc. Repeat step 3.
7. Using the data collected in Step 3 and Step 4, prepare a table of period and length. Make a
well-labeled graph of period vs. length using MS Excel. Use S.I units.

Lab Report Format

Size: 12 ; Font: Times New Roman ;
1. Cover Page (UiTM Logo, Title of Experiment, Student Name & ID, Group, Lecturer Name,
Date the lab was performed and Date the report submitted)
2. Title (Give a suitable title for the experiment)
3. Objective
4. Apparatus (Diagram/ Picture of Expriment setup)
5. Procedure of Experiment
6. Results/ Data ( Present your experiment data in a table, compare the results between
theoretical & experimental, calculate the percentage error)
7. Discussion & Conclusion
8. Refferences