Student Name
Date:
Period:
Pendulum Lab Handout v 1.1
Prepared by Wojtek Walecki, Ph.D.
10/31/23
1. Construct a simple pendulum using provided thread and screw nuts (as masses) having a
length of approximately 0.40 m. Take a photograph of your set up.
2. Measure the period of small oscillations when the amplitude of oscillations <10 deg. Measure
10 oscillations and calculate the duration of the single period.
3. Measure the period of big oscillations when the amplitude of oscillations >30 deg. Measure
2,4 oscillations and calculate the duration of the single period.
4. Measure the period of very small oscillations when the amplitude of oscillations <10 deg.
Measure 10 oscillations and calculate the duration of the single period.
5. What are the conclusions of measurements 2-4?
6. Measure the period of small oscillations of the system employing 1, 2, and screw 3 nuts.
Present data in the form of a table :
Number of screw nuts
Total mass [kg]
10T[s]
7. Based on the table in point 6 do you see dependence of T on mass?
T [s]
8 measure the period of small oscillations for various lengths of the string (up to about 1 m):
Measurement number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9. Plot
a. T vs L,
b. T^2 vs L, and
c. ln(T) vs. ln(L)
(Total THREE! graphs).
L (m)
10 T [s]
T [s]
Which of these three graphs resemble a straight line? What is the meaning of slope? In there a
non zero intercept. What is the meaning of the intercept if any?
10. Find in your textbook the formula for the period of a simple pendulum. Copy it below and
provide a reference.
10. Using plot T^2 vs L find the slope of the line and relate it to free fall acceleration g. Slope =
____________ s^2/m
Calculate g = __________________ m/s^2
11. Find slope in the graph ln(T) vs. ln(L). Is it close to 0.5? Why?