RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The pendulums period of oscillation is analyzed depending on the length of string, mass of the bob, and
the angle used. The first part of the experiment involved the analyzation of the period of oscillation of the pendulum
depending on the length of the string.
Table 1. Periods for varying angles
Angle
20 T (s)
Period T, (s)
%
1
2
3
Experimenta Theoretica Erro
,
l
l
r
(%)
5o
27.1
26.6
27.8
1.36
1.30
4.62
3
0
9
30o
27.1
27.1
26.5
1.35
1.30
3.85
4
1
5
45o
27.4
27.2
27.3
1.37
1.30
5.38
0
3
4
60o
27.5
27.2
27.6
1.37
1.30
5.38
0
9
1
*Mass = 251. 48 g; Pendulum length, L = 41.7 cm
It is seen from the results that the experimental and theoretical values of the periods for varying angles have
small differences, which is proven by the small percentage errors (less than 6%). It could be said, then, that the
period of oscillation of the pendulum is independent of the angle of displacement. However, with the equation

F=mgsin

(1)

Where the restoring force, F, is equal to mg, the weight, and the negative sign showing that the direction of
force is opposite to the angular displacement
to

. This would tell us that the restoring force is not proportional

, but proportional to its sine component. The oscillation of the pendulum, therefore, is not simple harmonic

motion. However, sin

may equal

if the angle is considerably small. Bigger angles would give different

results and lead to bigger errors as its sine component is taken. [1] With small angles used, the equation changes to

F=mg

(2)

Since x = L , where x, the length of the arc, is dependent on the angle of displacement and length of
cord, the equation can shift to

= x/L, and substituting it to Equation 2 will have

F=

mg
x
L

(3)

In experiment, it could be considered that some angles can be used to obtain same periods of oscillation for
a certain L, only if the percentage error is less than 5%. Anymore bigger than 5% should consider the effects of
angles in the period of oscillation of the pendulum. Therefore, angles up to 30o are considered small enough for
obtaining almost same periods of oscillation for a pendulum, and any bigger than this angle shows different period
results.
The pendulums period of oscillation was then analyzed by using different masses.
Table 2. Periods for varying masses
Mass
20 T (s)
Period T, (s)
%
(m), g
Erro
r (%)
1
2
3
Experimenta Theoretica
l
l
251.4
27.0
27.0
27.0
1.35
1.30
3.85

8
191.2
1
264.1
2
272.9
8

6
26.1
2
27.3
7
26.8
3

*Angle

3
26.1
4
27.3
4
26.9
2

7
26.0
9
27.2
5
26.7
4

1.31

1.30

0.77

1.37

1.30

5.38

1.34

1.30

3.08

, = 10o ; Pendulum length, L = 41.7 cm

It could be seen from the results that the errors are also very small, in comparison of the experimental and
theoretical results (less than 6%). It could be said, therefore, that the period of oscillation of the pendulum is
independent of the mass used. With the previous equation derived (3), and using the equation
F = -kx
(4)
The two equations can be substituted with one another to find the spring stiffness constant k. The equation
is defined as

k=

mg
L

(5)

Since simple harmonic motion follows the conservation of energy, where the total mechanical energy of a
simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to the square of the amplitude, and equal to an energy that is part kinetic
and part potential, an equation is derived for period, which is

T =2

m
k

(6)

However, to make use of the equation, k must be substituted by another term, which is from Equation 5.
Therefore, the new derived equation is

T =2

L
g

(7)

Where L is the length of the cord and g is the acceleration due to gravity. [1] It could be noted, however, that
mass (m) does not appear in the equation as it was cancelled during the derivation process. [1] Any mass used for a
pendulum with a certain L would give almost the same period value as the equation disregards the value of mass.
This was seen in the results, proven by the low percentage errors obtained between the experimental and theoretical
values.
The pendulums period of oscillation was analyzed depending on the varying lengths of the cord.
Table 2. Periods for varying lengths
Lengt
20 T (s)
Period T, (s)
%
h (L),
Erro
cm
r (%)
1
2
3
Experimenta Theoretica
l
l
40.3
26.6
26.7
26.7
1.33
1.27
4.72
2
1
2
33.0
24.4
24.4
24.5
1.22
1.15
6.09
6
0
8
25.0
22.0
22.1
21.9
1.10
1.00
10.0
9
5
7
20.2
19.9
19.8
19.7
0.99
0.90
10.0
1
6
9
*Angle ,

= 10o ; Mass, m = 272.98 g

Considerable errors are noted for the last two decreasing lengths, where the errors hit 10% between the
experimental and theoretical periods. However, the succeeding increasing periods show a lower percentage error,
with the highest length (40.3 cm) showing the lowest percentage error.
In comparison with its predecessors, it is seen from the results that the length of the cord varying at some
degree does affect the period of oscillation of the pendulum. Since equation 7 shows a variable L, increasing or
decreasing lengths do play a role with the period value of the pendulum. From the results, it could be said that
increasing lengths used increase the period of time of oscillation for the pendulum. Therefore, period T is directly
proportional to the length L of a pendulum. [1]
Errors in the experiment include the possible stretching of the string due to the existing mass, which may
have altered some of the results, reaction time, which was different per person measuring the period of oscillation of
the pendulum, and lastly, differences in measurements, where different lengths and angles were measured due to
uncertainties in the measuring devices and due to the person measuring the components of the setup.

SOURCES:
[1] Giancoli, DC. 2007. Physics: Principles with Applications (6th edition). Pearson Education South Asia
Pte Ltd.: Jurong, Singapore.