Lab: Oscillations and the Simple Pendulum

Purpose: The student will become familiar with the behavior of a simple pendulum, a
mass suspended by a thin, light string. The student will release the pendulum after it
has been displaced by a small angle and observe how the period of the oscillation is
related to the length of the string and to the mass of the object. The student will also
ascertain the acceleration due to gravity.

Equipment: phone/tablet/computer, internet access

𝐿
Theory: 𝑇 = 2𝜋√𝑔

Procedure:

1. Go to: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/pendulum-lab/latest/pendulum-
lab_en.html and click on “Intro”. Your screen should look like this:

2. The interface allows you to manipulate several variables. Leave Friction as

“None” and Gravity as “Earth.” Click on “Stopwatch”.

3. Calculate the square root of the lengths given in Data Table – Length.
 4. Now you’re ready to start taking measurements. Leave the 1.00 kg mass on the
pendulum. Adjust the length to match the ones given in Data Table – Length.
Displace the pendulum by 15 from the vertical axis and release it. Measure the
time for the pendulum to complete 10 full swings (periods) and record this value
and Time 1 in Data Table - Length below.

5. Repeat this process two more times for the 1.00 m pendulum and record your
values as Time 2 and Time 3 in Data Table – Length.

6. Repeat this procedure for the other lengths assigned in Data Table 1 and record
your measurements there. Be sure to release the pendulum from an angle of
approximately 15 each time.

7. For each length, calculate the corresponding average time.

8. The period T is defined as the average time divided by 10, the number of swings.
Record your value for the period T in the table.

Data Table - Length

Length L √𝐿 Time 1 Time 2 Time 3 Average time Period T

(m) (√𝑀) (s) (s) (s) (s) (s)

1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

9. According to the equation provided in the Theory section of this lab exercise, the
2𝜋
period T should be directly proportional to . Plot a graph with √𝐿 on the x-
√𝑔𝑒𝑥𝑝
axis and T on the y-axis. Calculate the slope of the best-fit line to your data and
record this value here. Also calculate your value for gexp and record it here. Be
prepared to provide a copy of this graph on the quiz for this lab exercise.

Slope = _________________ gexp = ________________ m/s2

 10. For the next part of this experiment, we will be investigating the relationship
between the period of a pendulum and the mass of the pendulum bob. Place a
0.10 kg mass on the end of the string and adjust the string so that the pendulum
length is 1.0 m.

11. Displace the pendulum by 15 and release it. Record the time for 10 swings as
Time 1 in Data Table - Mass. Repeat this two more times for a total of three
trials.

12. Keeping the length of the pendulum constant at 1.00 m, repeat this procedure for
masses given in the table and record the times in Data Table - Mass.

13. Calculate the average time for each of the masses and record these values.

14. Calculate the period T for each mass by dividing the average time by 10. Record
these values in Data Table – Mass.

Data Table - Mass

Mass (kg) Time 1 (s) Time 2 (s) Time 3 (s) Average Period (s)
time (s)

0.10

0.20

0.50

1.00

1.30

1.50

Error Analysis:

1. Using the known value for the acceleration due to gravity, 9.8 m/s2, calculate the
percentage error for your experimental value of the acceleration due to gravity,
gexp.
 2. Because you have performed this experiment using a simulation, your
percentage error should be zero, because the correct value of g was
programmed in. What sources of error could cause you to have a non-zero
percentage error in this experiment? Remember to state if the source of error is
random or systematic.

3. In the hands-on version of the lab, you would have built a pendulum using string,
rods, clamps, and hanging masses. (See image). What would be some possible
sources of error (random or systematic) in this experiment?

Questions:

1. Does your experiment confirm the expected dependence of the period T on the
length L of a pendulum? Discuss your answer.
2. Does your experiment confirm the expected dependence of the period T on the
mass M of a pendulum? Discuss your answer.

3. When performing this experiment, you measured the time for 10 periods and
then divided by 10 to get the time for one period. Why is the time for more than
one period measured?

4. Following up on the previous question, if there is a benefit to measuring more

than one period, why not measure for 100 periods or 1000 periods? Besides the
fact that it would be time-consuming, is there a valid physical reason for why
measuring for 1000 periods would not be a good experimental practice? Justify
your answer.