NAME: Zedrick Roi C.

Trinidad DATE:
GR. & SEC.: 12-PARACLETE SCORE:

PT #1: MOTION OF A PENDULUM

Problem:
How does length affect the frequency of a pendulum?

Hypothesis:
The length of a pendulum will directly influence its frequency, with longer pendulums having a
slower frequency and shorter pendulums having a faster frequency.

Materials:
 Key, string, stopwatch, protractor

Procedures:
1) Design a simple pendulum. You may use a key, ring, necklace, etc.
2) Attach the simple pendulum to a rigid support, with the center of the bob
about 80 cm below the pivot point.
3) From the pivot point to the center of the bob, measure the length of the
pendulum.
4) Pull the bob aside about 20o and release it. Using a stopwatch, determine
the length of time, in seconds, required for 10 cycles. Note: One complete
cycle means that the weight moves from B→C, then C→B as shown by the
image on the right.
5) Decrease the length of the pendulum from 80 cm, in steps of approximately 60 cm, to a final
length of about 40 cm.
6) Determine the frequency of the pendulum for each length. Record your observations in
Table 1.
7) Plot a graph of pendulum frequency (f) against pendulum length (L). Describe the graph
constructed. Determine what happens when the frequency of the pendulum and its length
increase.
8) Determine the period of a pendulum as its length increases. Show your solution.
9) Adjust the pendulum length to the identical length used in the first observation. This time,
release the pendulum bob from approximately 10o so the pendulum vibrates with smaller
amplitude.
10)Determine its frequency. Compare the frequency with that obtained when the pendulum
oscillated with larger amplitude in step 4.
11)Replace the pendulum bob with a larger mass; make sure that the length of the pendulum
remains the same.
12)Determine its frequency. Compare this frequency with that obtained in step 5.
Data:

Table 1: Simple Pendulum released at 20o

Length of String Number of
Time (s) Frequency (Hz) Period
(cm) cycles

80 10 9.25 0.10 4.7s

60 10 7.15 0.13 4s

40 10 4.22 0.24 3.3s

Solutions for Frequency and Period

F 1/9.25=0.10
F 1/7.15=0.13
F 1/4.22=0.24
T 5.16 √80/9.8=4.7s
T 5.16 √60/9.8=4.07s
T 5.16 √40/9.8=3.33s

Graph 1: Frequency vs. Length

Interpretation and Analysis:
1) What happens to the frequency and period of a pendulum when there are changes in the length?
As the length of a pendulum varies, its frequency and period exhibit an inverse relationship.
This implies that an increase in the length results in a decrease in frequency, and
conversely, a decrease in length leads to an increase in frequency.

Table 2: Simple Pendulum released at 10o

 Length of String Number of
Time (s) Frequency (Hz) Period
(cm) cycles

80 10 10.30 0.09Hz 4.7s

60 10 8.25 0.1 Hz 4.07s

0.23 Hz
40 10 4.33 3.33s

Solutions for Frequency and Period

F 1/10.30=0.09Hz
F 1/8.25=0.1 Hz
F 1/4 .33= 0.23 Hz

T 5.16 √80/9.8=4.7s
T 5.16 √60/9.8=4.07s
T 5.16 √40/9.8=3.33s
Interpretation and Analysis:
2) Determine the effect on the frequency and period of an oscillating pendulum of fixed length
considering the following cases:
a. if there is a change in amplitude
b. if there is a change in the mass of the bob?
a.indicate that there is an increase in frequency as the amplitude changes. Therefore, an increase
in amplitude results in a higher frequency, and conversely, a decrease in amplitude leads to a
lower frequency.

b.reveal that there is a decrease in the period as the mass of the bob changes. Therefore, an
increase in the mass of the bob results in a shorter period, and a decrease in mass leads to a
longer period.
Conclusion:
in conclusion the hypothesis that the length of a pendulum will directly influence its frequency,
with longer pendulums having a slower frequency and shorter pendulums having a faster
frequency, is correct.

**Documentation: Pictures are needed for the following as proof of experimentation. Attach it here.
 Preparations for the pendulum set-up
 Actual experimentation (e.g., counting the number of swings, recording
the data, etc.)
 RUBRIC
18-20 15-17 12-14 10-11
A valid hypothesis Only three of the Only two of the Only one of the
was formulated. A required elements required elements required elements
table with complete were provided. were provided. was provided.
data was included. All
CONTENT questions in the
analysis part were
answered properly. A
conclusion to sum up
the results of the
experiment was
included.
13-15 10-12 7-9 6
Five pictures for Three to four pictures One to two pictures No documented
documentation were for documentation for documentation pictures were
DOCUMENTATION provided. Captions were provided. were provided. included.
were also provided to Captions were also Captions were also
better understand provided to better provided to better
what’s being shown. understand what’s understand what’s
being shown. being shown.
10 8-9 6-7 5
DATA All data were Most data were Data were present but Data were incomplete,
PRESENTATION presented in an presented in an not well organized or unorganized, and
organized and easy to organized and easy to incomplete. confusing to the
read manner. read manner. reader.
TIME 5 3-4
Output was submitted Outputs were submitted after the deadline.
on or before the
deadline.