Aim: To investigate the factors affecting the time period of a pendulum.
Introduction:
The time period of a pendulum is the time taken for the pendulum to swing from the first position, A, through positions B and C and back to position A again.
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Many factors can affect the time period of the pendulum. These factors are: length of string, angle from which the pendulum is dropped, the air resistance and the weight of the pendulum. In this experiment I will be changing the length of the string and seeing how it affects the time period of the pendulum.
Prediction:
I predict that as the string gets longer, the time period will increase. I think this will happen because the bigger the string, the greater the distance the pendulum needs to travel and so the more time it will take. This will occur because the string is like the radius of the circle and so changing the length of string will change the circumference of the circle, so the longer the piece of string; the bigger the circle, and the bigger the distance that the pendulum will travel.
Equipment List: - string (180 cm) – to be tied to the weight to make the pendulum - small weight (50g) – to be the bob for the pendulum - clamp and stand- to hold the pendulum so the experiment is more accurate - protractor – to measure always the same angle for the pendulum to be released - stop watch- to time the pendulum - 50 cm ruler- to measure the string - scissors – to cut the string
Diagram:
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Fair Test:
So that the experiment is fair, I will keep the weight of the pendulum always the same. It will always be 50g. I will also make sure the pendulum is dropped from the same angle (30º), I will use a protractor to make sure the angle from which the pendulum is dropped is always the same. I will also try to keep the air resistance the same. To keep the air resistance the same I will carry out all trials in the