Relationship between Length and Period of a Single Pendulum

Inseong Cho
Chris
Physics
January 12, 2023

1
Statement
This report aims to investigate the relationship between the length of a pendulum and the
period of oscillation from 5 degrees, by setting up a single pendulum, measuring the pe-
riod of oscillation for different lengths of the pendulum and analyzing the data collected.

Hypothesis
The period of oscillation of a pendulum is proportional to the length of the pendulum.

√
l L
g=4 π 2 T =2 π
t g
L = length of pendulum (m), G = acceleration due to gravity (m/s)

Variables of experiment

- Independent variable: The length of pendulum (meters)

- Dependent variable: The period of oscillation (seconds)
- Other variables we have to control or keep constant:
- Mass of massive bob, it should be kept constant because we have to only find out rela-
tion between length and period of pendulum.

- The angle of releasing point

- Air resistance

Materials

- Pendulum
- Stopwatch
- Ruler
- Paper to record data
- Calculator

2
Procedure
1. Set up the pendulum and attach rigid support on the wall
2. Set the thread as point 0.3 meter long.
3. Pull the bob the amplitude is 5 degrees
4. Time and record one complete acceleration on 30 degrees with 0.3 meter long thread.
5. Repeat the procedures with same degrees but with 0.6 and 0.9 meter long thread.

Raw data
Length(m) Period(s)

0.3 1.0993

0.6 1.5537

0.9 1.9029

Relationship between period and length of thread

2 Period(s)

1.5
Period in second

0.5

0
0.3 0.6 0.9
Length of thread

3
Calculation
2 0.3
Trial 1, 4 π =9.8005
1.09932

= Average - Trial 1
= 9.8085 - 9.8005 = 0.0080
Gravity calculated = 9.8085 ± 0.0080

Results
The data collected showed that as the length of the pendulum increased, the period of os-
cillation also increased. A graph of length per period showed a linear relationship between
the two variables. And the calculated result was 9.8085±0.0080, gravitational accelera-
tion.
In summary, the collected data support the hypothesis that the period of oscillation of a
pendulum is directly proportional to the length of the pendulum. Therefore, this experi-
ment was a success it well proved the gravitational acceleration equals 9.8m/s^2