Pendulum Experiment

Lab Report

Aim

The ‘Pendulum Experiment’ is aimed to determine the effect of length on the period of oscillation of a
simple pendulum. Ultimately, the data and relationship of the length and period were used to measure
gravitational field strength, g.

Hypothesis

The length of the pendulum and the period will be positively correlated and therefore, I would observe a
smaller average period of oscillation as the length of the string reduces. The g value will be mostly
constant throughout the experiment and its constancy can be guaranteed through smaller uncertainty and
accurate data collection.

Procedure

1. Construct the pendulum by fixing the string perpendicular to the table using the clamp. Attach the
mass, string and stand together with knots. Exclude the length of knots and include the length of
the iron ring above the mass from the whole string length.
2. Release the string at 30° (measured by the protractor) from the rest point perpendicular to the
table (or floor).
3. Make sure one person to release the string, another to count the oscillations, the other to record
the time taken for 20 oscillations.
4. Repeat 2 and 3 three times for each length of the string.

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Results 
Time taken for 20 oscillations (s) Absolute Percentage
Length of the Average of T Uncertainty Uncertainty(
string L (m) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 (s) (s) %)
1.00 40.2 40.5 40.1 40.3 0.170 0.422
0.90 37.9 38.2 37.9 38.0 0.160 0.421
0.80 35.5 36.4 36.2 36.0 0.440 1.22
0.70 34.0 33.6 33.7 33.7 0.200 0.593
0.60 31.3 31.3 31.4 31.3 0.050 0.160
0.50 27.7 28.8 28.6 28.4 0.545 1.92
0.40 26.1 26.9 25.4 26.1 0.775 2.97
0.30 20.4 21.4 21.0 21.0 0.490 2.34
0.20 18.0 17.9 18.6 18.2 0.350 1.93

Table 1. Length of The String And Average of Period For 20 Oscillations 

 
Time taken for 1 oscillation (s) Absolute Percentage
Length of the Average of T Uncertainty Uncertainty(
string L (m) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 (s) (s) %)
1.00 2.01 2.02 2.01 2.01 0.008 0.422
0.90 1.90 1.91 1.89 1.90 0.008 0.421
0.80 1.78 1.82 1.81 1.80 0.022 1.22
0.70 1.70 1.68 1.68 1.69 0.010 0.593
0.60 1.57 1.56 1.57 1.57 0.002 0.160
0.50 1.39 1.44 1.43 1.42 0.027 1.92
0.40 1.30 1.35 1.27 1.31 0.039 2.97
0.30 1.02 1.07 1.05 1.05 0.025 2.34
0.20 0.90 0.90 0.93 0.91 0.018 1.93

Table 2. Length of The String And Average of Period For 1 Oscillation 

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 T² (s²) Absolute Percentage
Length of the Average of T² Uncertainty Uncertainty(
string L (m) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 (s²) (s²) %)
1.00 4.03 4.09 4.03 4.05 0.034 0.846
0.90 3.59 3.65 3.59 3.61 0.030 0.843
0.80 3.15 3.31 3.27 3.24 0.079 2.44
0.70 2.88 2.82 2.83 2.84 0.034 1.19
0.60 2.45 2.45 2.46 2.45 0.008 0.319
0.50 1.92 2.08 2.04 2.01 0.077 3.83
0.40 1.70 1.81 1.61 1.70 0.101 5.94
0.30 1.04 1.15 1.11 1.10 0.051 4.67
0.20 0.81 0.80 0.86 0.82 0.032 3.87

Table 3. Length of The String And Period²

Analysis

Data Collection

Three significant figures were used for data collection as they clearly maintain each value distinct to each
other and show some level of precision.

The average of the period for each length of the string was calculated by dividing the sum of the period
for three trials by 3. Each value was divided by 20 so that it can represent a period for 1 oscillation. Then,
in order to determine the relationship between the string length and T² easily and derive g from the
formula in the later stage, all periods were calculated to T² and the averages of them were calculated the
same way: dividing the sum of periods throughout three trials by 3.

Absolute uncertainty was calculated by subtracting the minimum bounce height from the maximum and
dividing it by 2. Percentage uncertainty was calculated by dividing absolute certainty by average and
multiplying 100(%).

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Graph and Analysis

Average of T²

Length of String

The graph clearly shows that string length and T² have a linear positive correlation.

The equation, y = 4.06x ­ 0.0116  , was generated by the Google Sheet equation generator and it
demonstrates that the relationship between string length and T² can be represented by a linear line with
the positive gradient of 4.06.

Conclusion

Through the graph and the linear equation, I could observe the length and period relationship being

T ² αL and therefore,

Loading…

where T is the period of oscillation and L is the length.

The value for g can be drawn out from the equation of the relationship between string length and T².
The formula for the pendulum experiment is

√
L
T = 2π g  

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where g is the acceleration due to gravity, g.

The formula can be transformed into

2
2
√
L
T = (2π g )  

2
T = 4π
2
·( L
g) 

· 2
g T =  4π
2
· L 
g=
(4π 2 L)·
T2

T2 2
L is equal to the gradient of the graph above as y -axis represents the average of T and x -axis
represents the length of the string. The gradient was determined by the equation of the graph. Therefore,

T2
L = 4.06

L 1
=
T2 4.06

g = 4π 2   L2 · T

g = 4π 2 ·  1
4.06 = 9.72 (to 3 s.f.)

According to IB Physics Data Booklet, g is equal to 9.81, so I could identify

9.81 ­ 9.72 = 0.09  difference between them.

Evaluation
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Overall, the graph and equation showed the reasonable relationship between string height and T . The
percentage uncertainty was below 5% except for the string length of 0.40 m as well. However, there were
some limitations when this experiment was conducted.

Firstly, the displacement angles and string lengths might have been displaced due to the incorrect
measuring. Although the same person measured the angles and length of the string in order to be
consistent, there were still some discrepancies as it was difficult to maintain the same eye-level.

Secondly, there was an inconsistent time gap between starting and stopping the stopwatch. This is due to
delayed reaction times. This was also carried out by the same person to increase the consistency, but there
was inconsistency when another person in charge of counting oscillations tells that person to stop the
stopwatch. This can be addressed by counting the number of oscillations together or notice the person in

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charge of the stopwatch before 20 oscillations are completed.

Lastly, the string was not always pulled tightly with enough tension when it was released. This could have
affected the path of motion of the mass, making it drop when released instead of fall. This can be
addressed by repeating the experiments more times and restarting the trial when the person identifies that
the string was not pulled tightly enough.

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