INVESTIGATION ON THE SIMPLE PENDULUM AIM IN THIS INVESTIGATION

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Investigation of the period of a simple pendulum

Investigation on the simple pendulum.


Aim

In this investigation you’ll devise an experiment in order to determine the key features of a simple pendulum. You should start by getting into groups of three and try to construct your own pendulum. Then, you should agree on your targets of the investigation and plan how these targets will be met over an extended period of time. As a final step, the formula of the pendulum’s period will be revealed, so that you get the opportunity, by using your own data, to determine the acceleration due to gravity.


Some definitions

“The beginning of wisdom is the definition of the terms”- Socrates (470-399 B.C.)

INVESTIGATION ON THE SIMPLE PENDULUM AIM IN THIS INVESTIGATION

Figure 1: The simple pendulum

The ideal simple pendulum consists of a bob of mass (m) suspended from a massless inextensible cord of length (l) from a point around which it pivots freely. In the real world, however, a pendulum is just a weight that is free to swing from a piece of string that is fixed at the other end to a stable support.


Pendulum’s period is the interval of time needed for each complete oscillation to occur (i.e.: swing away and back again)


Pendulum’s frequency (f) is the number of oscillations that occur per unit time and is the inverse of the period, f = 1/T.


Oscillation amplitude is the maximum distance that the mass is displaced from its equilibrium position.


One of the parameters involved has been left to be defined by you: Take a good look at fig.1 and try to define the length (L) of the pendulum: ………………………………….






Introduction


In the introduction, give the aim of your experiment and introduce the topic by giving a short description of the history of pendulums. You may also want to describe the key features of the pendulums and give some examples of their uses.




Constructing your own pendulum


Try to think a way of constructing a useful pendulum by considering the following:



In your lab book, make a sketch of your pendulum and briefly explain all considerations taken for its design.


If you are out of ideas you can consult the following picture - although I’m sure that you can construct your own design.



INVESTIGATION ON THE SIMPLE PENDULUM AIM IN THIS INVESTIGATION

Figure 2: An example of a pupils’ pendulum (taken from: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/1410/lab-GS-21.html )










Beginning of your investigation

“Questions are more important than answers”


Now that you have completed your pendulum, think as a group what questions to ask about it and try to write a comprehensive list of them. Then, think of the following questions:



Decide which questions you want to investigate (this may be done through a mini poll among the members of your group) and write, as part of your report, a rough plan of dealing with them.




Make your own predictions.

"You will go you will return not in the battle you will perish" Pythia (This was the answer that Pythia gave to an Athenian soldier who asked if he would die in the war. Try to see what happens if you put a comma before or after the word “not”)


Now it is time, like another Pythia, to make your own prophecies. Unlike Pythia, however, you are expected to make a clear hypothesis that can be experimentally tested:



In your report you should clearly state you hypotheses.

If you need more help in constructing your hypotheses do consult your instructor.













Data taking


Now, that you know what you want to measure, it is time to think how exactly you want to measure it! You may find the questions below helpful:


In your report you must tabulate all your results – don’t forget the relevant units. Also, where appropriate, you should calculate the average value. Then, try to estimate an error value for each of your results. Remember that an efficient way of presenting data is by using graphs!



Interpreting your data


This is a challenging task. Bear in mind that in physics there is no such thing as a perfect experiment. Taking this into account try to answer the following questions:


In your report discuss the reasonable conclusions drawn from your results. You should also make suggestions of improving your experimental technique.





















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