Pendulum Lab

Lucy Scheffler, Ethan Knarr, Annie Wingard

AP Physics Period 1

Purpose
The purpose of the pendulum lab is to determine the factors that affect the period of the
pendulum and identify how these factors affect the period. Four different factors will be
examined.

Background Information
A simple pendulum is defined to have a point mass which is suspended from a string with
negligible mass called the bob. The only forces acting on the bob are the force of gravity and
the tension from the string. A physical pendulum is any object whose oscillations are similar to
those of the simple pendulum, but cannot be modeled as a point mass on a string, and the
mass distribution must be included into the equation of motion. With the simple pendulum, the
force of gravity acts on the center of the point mass. In the case of the physical pendulum, the
force of gravity acts on the center of mass on an object. The length of the pendulum is
measured from the pendulum’s point of suspension to the center of mass of its point mass, and
can be measured by using a meter stick. The amplitude is the string’s angular displacement
from its vertical or its equilibrium position, and can be measured by using a protractor. A period
is measured as one full swing back and forth.

Materials
● String
● Balls
● Scissors
● Meter stick
● Iron ring stand
● Clamps
● Protractor

Set Up
Procedure

1. Gather materials from your instructor.

2. Measure the masses of the balls and record in the data table.
3. Assemble apparatus as shown in Figure 1.
4. Measure length of string and record in the data table.
5. Using a protractor, pull back the ball so that the string is 45° from the vertical equilibrium
position.
6. Release the ball. Immediately after the ball is released, start a stopwatch. Count 10 full
swings back and forth and then stop the stopwatch. Record the time.
7. Divide the length of time by 10 in order to record the length of time for 1 period.
8. Repeat this process, but vary string length in one trial, angle measure in another trial,
mass in another, and shape of bob in the last.

Data

Varying Length

Length of String (m) Angle Measure Length of Time for 10 Length of Time for 1
Periods Period

0.17 45° 8.54 0.854

0.27 45° 10.523 1.0523

0.37 45° 12.403 1.2043

0.47 45° 14.063 1.4063

Varying Mass
 Mass of Ball (kg) Length of String Angle Measure Length of Time Length of Time
(m) for 10 Periods for 1 Period

0.089 0.47 45° 14.02 1.402

0.072 0.47 45° 14.0067 1.40067

0.065 0.47 45° 13.993 1.3993

0.024 0.47 45° 14.063 1.4063

Varying Amplitude

Angle Measure Length of String Mass (kg) Length of Time Length of Time
(m) for 10 Periods for 1 Period

30° 0.47 0.024 13.28 1.328

45° 0.47 0.024 14.063 1.4063

70° 0.47 0.024 14.06 1.406

90° 0.47 0.024 14.66 1.466

Varying Shape (using clay)

Shape Mass of Length of Angle Length of Length of

Shape (kg) String (m) measure Time for 10 Time for 1
Periods Period

Rectangular 0.012 0.047 45° 13.87 1.387

prism

Cylinder 0.012 0.047 45° 13.67 1.367

Sphere 0.012 0.047 45° 13.99 1.399

Heart 0.012 0.047 45° 14.34 1.434

Calculations

To calculate a period:

Length of Time for 10 Periods 8.54 s

--------------------------------------- = ----------- = 0.854 s
10 10

Length vs. Period

Mass vs. Period

Amplitude vs. Period

Percent Ranges (periods):

(max-min) (1.4063 - 1.3993)

% range = -------------- x 100 = --------------------------------------------------------- x 100 = 0.499 %
Average (1.402 + 1.40067 + 1.3993 + 1.4063) / 4

Length = 48.89%
Mass = 0.499%
Amplitude = 9.85%
Shape = 4.797%

Error Analysis
 There are multiple sources from which error may have occurred in this lab. One of the
major sources of error is that the human brain has a delayed reaction time. The stopwatch may
have been started slightly late, and it may have been stopped late, as well. It’s likely that our
measured periods were too long, therefore causing the calculated periods to be too long as well.
It’s also possible that the measurements of the string lengths may not have been completely
precise and accurate. It’s likely that our measurements were too long, which caused the periods
to increase.

Conclusion
After analyzing the data and studying the graphs, it can be concluded that the length of
the string has a great effect on the period of the pendulum. The amplitude has a smaller effect,
and mass and shape do not seem to have any effect. By looking at the Length vs. Period graph,
one can see that as string length increases, so does the length of the period, indicating a
relationship between the two. By looking at the Amplitude vs.Period graph, one can see that
there appears to be an increasing pattern, but it is not as defined as that of the Length vs.
Period graph. When looking at the Mass vs. Period graph, one can see that there is no
correlation between the two variables. When looking at the data table for Varying Shape, one
can see that most of the shapes have similar periods, excluding the heart. The increased period
of the heart is likely due to air resistance.

Max Points
Title / Purpose 2 2
Background 4 4
Equipment & Setup 3 3
Procedure 4 4
Data 4 4 Great Data, Well organized
Calculations / Graphs 5 5
Error Analysis 4 4
Conclusion 4 4

30 30 Great Work