Studying the laws of motion with a

simple pendulum
By Mubashir Aijaz
 Introduction
● The laws of motion were first described by Isaac Newton in 1687.
● The laws describe how objects move and how they interact with each other.
● There are three laws of motion:
○ An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain
in motion at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force.
○ The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force
acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
○ For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
 Simple Pendulum
● A simple pendulum is a weight (mass) attached to a string (or
rod) that swings back and forth under the influence of gravity.

● The motion of a simple pendulum is periodic, meaning it

repeats the same motion over and over again.
 Why study the motion of a simple pendulum
experiment
● Studying the motion of a simple pendulum provides a simple and
visual demonstration of the laws of motion.
● A simple pendulum provides a great opportunity to study and
understand the relationship between the mass, length, and period
of the pendulum.
● The study of a simple pendulum can provide insight into more
complex systems, such as the motion of planets and other celestial
bodies.
The Experiment
 Equipment
● A pendulum bob (mass).
● A string or rod.
● A support stand to hold the
pendulum.
● A timer or stopwatch to
measure the time it takes for
the pendulum to complete one
full swing.
Variables measured
● Length of the pendulum
(string or rod).
● Time it takes for the
pendulum to complete
one full swing.
● The mass of the
pendulum bob.
Experiment Design
1. The length of the pendulum is measured and
recorded.

2. The pendulum is then allowed to swing back and

forth, and the time it takes to complete one full
swing is measured and recorded using a timer or
stopwatch.

3. The process is repeated for different lengths of the

pendulum to determine the relationship between
the length and the period of the pendulum.

4. The mass of the pendulum bob is also varied to

determine the relationship between the mass and
the period of the pendulum.
Data collected
Here is an example of a table that could be used to record the data for the experiment:

Length of Pendulum (m) Period of Pendulum (s) Trial Number Average Period (s) Standard Deviation (s)

0.5 2.0 1 2.0 0.0

0.5 2.1 2 2.05 0.05

0.6 2.2 1 2.2 0.0

Continue
Length of Pendulum (m) Period of Pendulum (s) Trial Number Average Period (s) Standard Deviation (s)

0.6 2.3 2 2.25 0.05

0.7 2.4 1 2.4 0.0

0.7 2.5 2 2.45 0.05

Continue
0.8 2.6 1 2.6 0.0

0.8 2.7 2 2.65 0.05

Note: The standard deviation is calculated using the formula:

s = √(∑(xi - x̄)^2 / (n-1)),

where xi is the measured value for each trial, x̄ is the average value, and n is the number of trials.

In this example, two trials were conducted for each length, and the average period and standard
deviation were calculated based on the data for each length. The standard deviation provides a
measure of the precision of the measurements, with smaller values indicating more precise
measurements.
Conclusion
● Summarize the main findings from the experiment, including the relationship between the
length of the pendulum and the period.
● Discuss the validity of the laws of motion for a pendulum based on the results of the
experiment.
● Evaluate the precision and accuracy of the measurements and the effectiveness of the
experiment design.
● Discuss any sources of error that may have affected the results, such as measurement
inaccuracies or inconsistencies.
● Suggest possible improvements or modifications to the experiment design to obtain more
accurate results in the future.
● Conclude by summarizing the importance of studying the laws of motion and the motion
of pendulums in physics.