Lab 6: Simple Pendulum

Name:

Objectives:
1. To measure the period (T) of a simple pendulum.
2. To determine the effect of mass (m) on the period (T) of a simple pendulum.
3. To determine the effect of initial amplitude (o) on the period (T) of a simple
pendulum.
4. To determine the effect of length (L) on the period (T) of a simple pendulum.

Lab Simulation
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/pendulum-lab

Theory
The period T of a simple pendulum, for small amplitude oscillations, is given by

T =2 π
√ L
g
where L is the length of the simple pendulum, and g is the local acceleration of
gravity.
In a controlled experiment, you fix all other variables but the one of interest, in
order to see the effect of that one variable on a certain physical quantity.

The dependent variable period (T) of a simple pendulum can depend on three
independent variables: mass (m), amplitude (o), and length (L). So, the period of a
simple pendulum can be expressed as a function of mass, amplitude, and length,

T = T(m,o, L) .

By successively fixing all other variables but one, we can study the dependence of
the period (T) of a simple pendulum on each of the three independent variables,

T = T(m), T = T(o), and T = T(L).

The following tables are used for exactly that purpose.

Procedure:
 Click on the Intro window of lab simulation link.
 Click on Stopwatch. Make sure that speed is set to Normal (radio button)
and Friction (slider) is set to None.
 Throughout the experiment, do not increase the Amplitude beyond 30
degrees.
 Choose Earth in Gravity window for Parts A, B and C.
A. The effect of mass (m) on the period (T) of a simple pendulum.
Length (fixed): 0.5 m Amplitude (fixed):
15o
Mass (g) PeriodTheoratical PeriodExperimental
100
400
600
800
1000
What conclusion can you draw about T=T(m) from this data?

B. The effect of amplitude (o) on the period (T) of a simple pendulum.

Length (fixed): 0.5 m Mass (fixed): 200g
Amplitude (o) PeriodTheoratical PeriodExperimental
o T(S) T(S)
5
10
15
20
25
30

C. The effect of length (L) on the period (T) of a simple pendulum.

Amplitude (fixed): 10o Mass (fixed):

Length (m) PeriodTheoratical PeriodExperimental Period2Experimental (S)
L(m) T(S) T(S) T2(S2)
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0.5
Q1. Is the effect of air resistance (drag), through the viscous fluid of air, a
systematic or random error with regard to the period (T) of a simple pendulum?
Hint, imagine the pendulum moving through water.

Q2. Thomas Jefferson proposed using the length (L) of a simple pendulum whose
period (T) was exactly 2 seconds as the definition of a standard meter. What is the
length (L) of a 2 sec. pendulum in SI Units?
Q3. What is the period (Tmoon) of a Jeffersonian pendulum on the surface of the
moon? Hint: Assume gmoon = (1/6)gearth, where gearth = 9.80 m/s2, and that the period
of a Jeffersonian pendulum on the earth is: Tearth = 2.00 s.