Tanamor, Ashley October 8, 2017

Tion, Vincent
Trinidad, Angelica
Yau, Nicki

EXPERIMENT 8
THE SIMPLE PENDULUM

ABSTRACT
The goal of this experiment was to determine the effect of mass and length on the period of oscillation
of a simple pendulum. In the experiment, both the length and the mass of the bob were varied. Other variables
such as the angle of displacement were kept constant in the experiment. The experiment performed served its
purpose well. The experiment clearly showed that the mass of the bob has no or negligible effect on the period
of the oscillation while changing the length has a direct relation with the period of oscillation.

METHODOLOGY
In this experiment, we needed string and a meter stick for the length, protractor for the specific angle,
and timer for the period of time it swayed for 20 vibrations. First, we looked for the effect of the amplitude on
the period. There are three trials of different angles. We needed to swing the pendulum to each specific angle
within 20 vibrations while being timed. Second, we looked for the effect of the mass of the bob on the period.
There are three trials of different mass of pendulum that we needed to weigh then sway them in a specific angle
within 20 vibrations. Lastly, we looked for the effect of length of the pendulum on the period. There are four
trials of different lengths of string. We needed to shorten the string by 20 centimeters and let it sway within 20
vibrations.

DATA AND ANALYSIS

Table 1. Effect of the amplitude on the period

Length = 80.0 cm

Trial Amplitude (degrees) Time for 20 complete vibrations (s) Period (s)

1 5o 37.48 s 1.874 s

2 10o 37.42 s 1.871 s

3 15o 36.71 s 1.8355 s

 Table 1 shows the data for the experiment given the situation that the angle changes throughout the
experiment however the other factors, which are length of the string, gravity of the and mass of the bob,
are constant. The results show that changing the angle of the pendulum has little to no effects on the
experiment.

Table 2. Effect of the mass of the bob on the period

o
Length = 80.0 cm, Amplitude = 15

Trial Mass (grams) Time for 20 complete vibrations (s) Period (s)

1 22 g 36.61 s 1.8305 s

2 50 g 36.52 s 1.826 s

3 100 g 34.92 s 1.746 s

Table 2 on the other hand shows how the mass of the bob affects the period of the pendulum. With the
other factors being constant, and the vibration for 3 different trials are 20 vibrations, which is also
constant, the results show that the mass of the bob also has little to no effect on the pendulum's period.

Table 3. Effect of length of the pendulum on the period

o
Amplitude = 15

Time for 20
Length Period Square of the Acceleration due to Percentage
complete
(cm) (s) period (s2) gravity (m/s2) Error
vibrations (s)

80.0 35.04 s 1.752 s 3.070 s2 10.288 4.97%

60.0 30.57 s 1.529 s 2.338 s2 10.130 3.36%

40.0 24.83 s 1.242 s 1.543 s2 10.233 4.42%

20.0 18.14 s 0.907 s 0.823 s2 9.593 2.11%

Table 3 contains the data on how the length of the pendulum's string affects its period. With the other
factors constant, and vibration also remains 20 vibrations every time the length changes, the results
show that length GREATLY affects the period of the pendulum. Through the table above, the
relationship between the period and the length of the pendulum's string is directly proportional. The
longer the string, the longer the period.
 GENERALIZATION

The experiment was carried out successfully, and yielded positive results. After the experiment, it was
shown that the period of oscillation for a pendulum is independent of mass. Also it was shown that the mass if
the bob and the angle of the pendulum has no effect on the acceleration of the pendulum. It is also observed that
the only factor that greatly affects the pendulums period is the length of its string. There is a direct proportional
relationship shown between the length of the pendulums string and the period. The longer the string, the longer
the period and vice versa.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1. Using MSEXCEL, Graph and display table 3. Length vs. Square of the Time. What relationship
exists between the length of a pendulum and the square of its period?

Square of Time

The length vs. Square of time have a direct relationship as shown in the graph above.

2. What are the factors affecting the period of a simple pendulum?

Only the Length of the Pendulums string affects the period of the simple pendulum.
Changing the weight of the bob and the angle of the pendulum exhibits only little to no
changes. Since gravity on earth is constant throughout and cannot be changed, the length
 of the pendulums string is the only factor that can affect the period. The length of the
pendulums string is directly proportional to its period. The longer the string, the longer
the period and vice versa.

3. What must you do to the length of a simple pendulum so that its period is doubled?
The formula of the period is T = 2(L/g) to double the period of the pendulum, the length
of the string should be four times larger than the original length.

4. Determine the acceleration due to gravity in a location where a simple pendulum 150.0 cm long
makes 100 vibrations in 246 seconds.

T = 4 *L/g
2 2

(T) Period = 100 vibrations/ 246 seconds = 2.46s

(L) Length = 150.0 cm
g = acceleration due to gravity

g = 4 *L/T
2 2

g = ( 4 (150.0cm) ) / 2.46 (1m/100cm) = 9.79 m/s

2 2 2