LAB OUTLINE: PENDULUM

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the length of the pendulum and its
period.

APPARATUS: retort stand with clamps, metre rule, stop clock, pendulum bob,
optical pin

MATERIALS: string, two wooden blocks

THEORY:

A pendulum is a metal bob attached to a

light inextensible, inelastic string.

The length of the pendulum is the distance

from the point of support to the centre of
the bob.

The equilibrium position is the point at

which the pendulum hangs freely
downward.

A displaced position of a pendulum occurs

when the pendulum is pulled away at an angle from its equilibrium position.

The amplitude of the pendulum is the angle between the displaced position and
the equilibrium position.

An oscillation of a pendulum occurs when the

pendulum moves from a displaced position
through the equilibrium position to the other
side and then back to the start position.

The period of the pendulum, T, is the time for

one oscillation.

The standard unit of the period is the second (s).

DIAGRAM:
PROCEDURE:

A metal bob was tied to a string

The pendulum length was marked at 10cm intervals using a metre rule and a pen.

The string was attached to the retort stand at the 10cm mark using the blocks

The pendulum was slightly displaced and released.

A countdown method was used and the pendulum was timed for 20 oscillations

The time was recorded.

The pendulum was timed for the same length 2 more times and the times were
also recorded.

The entire procedure was repeated for increasing lengths and the times were
recorded.

RESULTS:

length time1 Time2 Time3

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CALCULATIONS:

length length(m) time1 time2 time3 time T T2

(average)

DISCUSSION:

SOURCES OF ERROR:

PRECAUTIONS:

CONCLUSION.