Varughese 1 Jitin Varughese Sarita Saju Lab #8 -Making a Clock Introduction/Objective: This lab is conducted to find out what

all factors affect the period of a pendulum. The first part is conducted to know if length affects the period and the second part is to examine if amplitude changes the period of a pendulum. A simple pendulum can be made by fixing a mass to the end of a piece of string. When the pendulum is at rest the string hangs vertically with the mass directly below the point where the string if fixed. Materials: Pendulum Stand and Clamps PASCO 750 interface with photogate Protracker Meter stick Top-load balance Mass set

Precautions: Adjust the position of the string in the slot of the hanger peg so the pendulum bob swings through the photogate without hitting the sides.

Procedures: 1. Measure the length of the pendulum accurately. Measure the string from the bottom of the string peg to the center of gravity of the cylinder. 2. The amplitude is 10. 3. Pull the pendulum bob to one side and release it. Find the time of one swing. 4. Change the length of the pendulum and then repeat steps. 5. In the Activity 2 we will use the wood-pod cylindrical pendulum. 6. The length will be 31 cm.

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Data: Length (cm) 24 29 42 62.5 69 74.5 90 Period (s) 0.888 1.03 1.25 1.51 1.60 1.69 1.860

4 3.5 3

Period (T)

2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 y = 3.9605x - 0.131

Length (m) T/L = 4/g. the slope we obtained from the experiment is 3.9605. The theoretical value of the slope is 4.03. The change of value is due to human errors. The percentage difference is 1.7%. Amplitude in degrees 10 15 20 25 30 Period in seconds 1.034 1.039 1.043 1.044 1.051

From the data we obtained we do not see a big change in the period. The small change is due to accuracy error by human. In theory Period is independent of Amplitude as the equation for period is

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Where m is the mass and k is the spring constant.

Conclusion: The period of a pendulum is the time it takes for the pendulum to start at one extreme and travel to the opposite extreme and then returns to its original location. We measured the relationship between the length of the pendulum and the period. The mass was held constant and the arc angle was held constant. We found that as the string is lengthened, the period of the pendulum is increased. Thus, there is a direct relationship between period and length. The mass and length were held constant while the amplitude varied. This experiment showed that the amplitude had little to no effect on the period of the pendulum.