Professional Documents
Culture Documents
HSC Phy Pendulum Prac
HSC Phy Pendulum Prac
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Practical
Retort Stand
Clamp
Boss Head
String 1- meter
Mass Carrier
Mass 50g
Metre Rule
Stopwatch
Large Protractor
Method:
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram below.
Retort Stand
Mass carrier
and Mass
Counter Weight
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Practical
Horizontal support
Length
Mass
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Practical
Results:
Results attained form different lengths and 5 trials
Length: 1m
Trial
Time for 10
oscillations
Length: 0.9m
Period
(s)
Period2
(S2)
Trial
Time for 10
oscillations
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Average
Length: 0.8m
Length: 0.7m
Trial
Time for 10
oscillations
Period
(s)
Period2
(S2)
Trial
Time for 10
oscillations
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Average
Length: 0.6m
Length: 0.5m
Trial
Time for 10
oscillations
Period
(s)
Period2
(S2)
Trial
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Average
Time for 10
oscillations
Period
(s)
Period2
(S2)
Period
(s)
Period2
(S2)
Period
(s)
Period2
(S2)
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Analysis:
To Find g:
T = 2(l/g)
T/2 = (l/g)
T2/42 = l/g
gT2/42 = l
g = 42l/T2
Determining G
T2=
L = 1.0 meter
G=
Determining G
T2=
L = 0.9 meter
G=
Determining G
T2=
L = 0.8 meter
G=
Practical
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Determining G
T2=
L = 0.7 meter
G=
Determining G
T2=
L = 0.6 meter
G=
Determining G
T2=
L = 0.5 meter
G=
Final Average of G:
Practical
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Practical
m = rise/run
Rise
T2 (s2)
Run
Length (m)
Sub m into eqn: g = 42 x 1/m
Run
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Practical
Conclusion:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Practical
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Practical
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Practical
10
Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Practical
Another reason for the discrepancy between the true and experimental values for
gravitational acceleration could have been the failure of the investigation to
adequately account for the error ranges of measuring instruments in both calculations
and the graphical representation. To eliminate this error source, these ranges could
have been factored into calculations involving T, T2 and l, giving more exact values of
g and bringing greater validity to drawn conclusions. Also, instead of simply taking
the average of the 6 values of g as the definitive value, an allowance for error could
have been made by determining the greatest residual from the arithmetic mean and
expressing the final value as a range, rather than a definite figure. This would have
had the added advantage of showing clearly the level of accuracy of the investigation
and, hence, giving a truer indication of the reliability of the conclusion.
A possible source of error, and a possible cause for the difference between the
value of g calculated in this experiment and the theoretical value, lies in the variations
in gravitational acceleration that relate to geographical position. Depending on the
thickness and density of the Earths crust, proximity to the Earths poles and the
magnitude of centrifuge forces at any one point on the Earths surface, the value for g
calculated in this experiment could have deviated by as much as 0.032ms-2 due to
factors beyond direct control.
Also contributing to the stated discrepancy could have been inherent faults in the
apparatus used, including weak and/or worn components of the boss head, clamp,
mass carrier and/or retort stand, as well as frailty of the string, or even a weakening of
an otherwise strong string through repeated use. Solutions to this source of error
include replacing the string with a fresh length before each new trial and carefully
examining and replacing other apparatus where, and when, necessary.
Another reason the validity of conclusions may have suffered could have been the
intervention of humans in both the data collection, and the data analysis process. Both
systematic, and accidental errors, including those related to parallax, arising from
human involvement would have had a negative impact on the reliability of gathered
data, the accurate analysis of that data, and the validity of the drawn conclusion.
Replacing humans with artificial intelligence in the form of robots and/or computers
in the areas of data collection and analysis (for example, having the line graph
produced on Microsoft Excel instead of by hand) would have rectified this error
source and improved the reliability of the investigation as a whole.
Each time the pendulum is brought from equilibrium back to its extreme of motion
before release, it is critical that no, or, at the very least, little tension is lost from the
string. By supplying flexion to the string, the mass carrier is given additional potential
energy on top of the weight force already being exerted. This means that, on release,
the pendulum will have additional and unwanted forces acting on it, resulting in
further reaction forces, impulses through the string and the disturbance of harmony in
the shm system. This could lead to inaccurate results and an unreliable conclusion.
11