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Pendulum Lab: Purpose

This lab experiment uses a pendulum to determine the value of gravity by measuring the period of oscillation over multiple trials. Students will use a bob, string, ruler, and stopwatch to measure the length of the pendulum and time 5 oscillations over 3 trials. From these measurements, they will calculate the period and use the pendulum formula involving period and length to find the value of gravity, checking their result against the known value.

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49 views

Pendulum Lab: Purpose

This lab experiment uses a pendulum to determine the value of gravity by measuring the period of oscillation over multiple trials. Students will use a bob, string, ruler, and stopwatch to measure the length of the pendulum and time 5 oscillations over 3 trials. From these measurements, they will calculate the period and use the pendulum formula involving period and length to find the value of gravity, checking their result against the known value.

Uploaded by

ftreviño_14
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pendulum Lab

Purpose:
In this lab, we will be using the formula for pendulum

to find gravity. Its

easy to use this formula because pendulum only depends on A) The length of the
pendulum l, and B) gravity g. Thus, with the length of the pendulum as our
control we can find gravity.

Materials:

A
A
A
A
A

bob
mass of 200g
string
stopwatch
ruler

Procedure:
1) Grab your string and attach it to your bob. Then, make a loop and hang your
mass from here.

2) Measure the total length of your pendulum beginning from the top of your
string to the middle of the length of your mass. This will be your pendulum
system.
3) Set your pendulum in motion by holding your mass at an angle less than 20.
Time how long it takes for 5 oscillations. Record your time.
4) Repeat step 3) 2 more times.
5) Collect your data in the following chart:

Trials

Length

Mass
m

Number of
Oscillations

Time
t

Period

1
2
3
6) From your data find your period for every trial. To do this, divide your time by
the number of oscillations.

7) Find the average of your periods with the following equation:

8) Plug your period, , and length, , in the equation for pendulum to find
gravity.

9) Calculate your percent error. It should be less than 5% otherwise you did
something wrong.

Personal Data Chart:


Trials
1
2
3

Length

Number of
Oscillations

Time
t

Period

Mass
m

.3 meters
.3 meters
.3 meters

200 g
200 g
200 g

5
5
5

6.2s
6.1s
6.3s

1.24s
1.22s
1.26s

*Didnt count the radius of the mass.

Trials
1
2
3

Length

Number of
Oscillations

Time
t

Period

Mass
m

.3 meters
.3 meters
.3 meters

200 g
200 g
200 g

5
5
5

5.8s
5.3s
5s

1.16s
1.06s
1.00s

*I was setting in motion my pendulum at an angle of 180 messing up its


natural torque.

Trials
1
2
3

Length

Number of
Oscillations

Time
t

Period

Mass
m

.3 meters
.3 meters
.3 meters

200 g
200 g
200 g

5
5
5

5.9s
4.9s
6s

1.18
0.98
1.20

*Human Error

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