A Scientific

Investigation

Simple Pendulum
A Simple Scientific Investigation
The Oscillations (Swings) of a Simple Pendulum

Pendulum
length
L
 A simple
pendulum with Nail
a steel mass
hanging on a String
piece of string 0.25 m
wrapped long
around a nail
Steel
Mass
 Purpose of Investigation
To determine by experiment
what length a pendulum should be,
in order to swing
at a rate of
50 complete swings per minute
Complete swing is for it to return to
its starting position
 Pendulum Length
Pendulum lengths to investigate

0.25 m
0.5 m
0.75 m
1.0 m
 Results of Practical Experiment
Pendulum No of Swings No of Swings
Length per half minute per minute
(metres) ( counted ) (by doubling)

0.25 30 60
0.5 22.5 43
0.75 17 34
1.0 15 30
 Graph of Experimental Results
Y-Values
70

60

50
No
40
Swings
Per 30
Minute
20

10

0
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1

Pendulum Length (metres)

 Graph of Experimental Results
Y-Values
70

60

50
No
Swings 40

Per
30
Minute
20 Length
10
0.37 m
0
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1

Pendulum Length (metres)

 Graph of Experimental Results
The graph shows that Y-Values
70
for 50 swings per minute
60 the pendulum length
50
should be
No
0.37 m
40
Swings
Per 30

Minute
20
Length
10 0.37 m
0
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1

Pendulum Length (metres)

 0.37 m Length Pendulum
Do another test
with the pendulum length
set to 0.37 m
and see if it does swing at
50 complete swings per minute
(25 swings per HALF minute)
Theoretical Prediction of Swing Rate
Scientists worked out a formula:

No of Complete Swings 29.88

Per Minute =

√ Pendulum Length (m)

Square root symbol

(the square root of 4 is 2)

Predicted Swing Rate for a 0.37 m Long Pendulum
No of Complete Swings 29.88
Per Minute =

√ Pendulum Length (m)

For a pendulum length of 0.37 m

√ (Pendulum Length (m) = √ 0.37 = 0.608

No of complete swings per minute = 29.88 / 0.608
= 49

Our graph of experimental results suggested 50 swings per minute !

 Another Investigation
Use the graph of results to determine
what length of pendulum would have
35 complete swings per minute ?

Then carry out an experiment

(using that length of pendulum)
to see how many swings there are per minute.

Then use the mathematical formula to find out how

many swings the formula predicts for that length.
 CONCLUSIONS
What conclusions do you draw
from your investigations, about the
effect of pendulum length on the
number of swings per minute ?