What Factors Effect the Period of a Pendulum
Physics Investigation: What factors affect the period of a pendulum?
By Tanya Waqanika
In this investigation, I will be looking at which factors affect the period (The time for one complete cycle, a left swing and a right swing) of a pendulum (a weight that dangles from a pivot so that it can swing freely). I will do this by tying a metal bob to a length of spring and dropping it from a certain height and measuring the time it takes to complete an oscillation, changing a variable for each of my preliminary investigations.
Independent Variable | Dependent Variable | Control Variables | Length of String (continuous) | Period of the pendulum (continuous) | Diameter of Bob | | | Type of Bob | | | Angle bob dropped from | | | Person stopping stopwatch | | | Person dropping bob | | | Height Bob is dropped from |
Preliminary Investigations
Preliminary One: Length of Strong
Results Table | Time of Period (seconds) | Length of String | Trial 1 | Trial 2 | Trial 3 | Ranges | Averages (mean) | 10cm | 0.87 | 0.69 | 0.87 | 0.69-0.87 | 0.81 | 20cm | 1.01 | 1.02 | 1.01 | 1.01-1.02 | 1.01 | 30cm | 1.32 | 1.42 | 1.32 | 1.32-1.42 | 1.35 | 40cm | 1.66 | 1.71 | 1.66 | 1.66-1.71 | 1.68 |
According to my graph, there is a positive correlation between the period of a pendulum and the length of string, meaning that as the length of the string increases, the period increases as well. The gradient of this graph is 0.9879. This would be ideal for my main investigation as there is a noticeable relationship between the length of string and period.
Preliminary Two: Angle Metal Bob is dropped from Independent Variable | Dependent Variable | Control Variables | Angle from which the bob is dropped from(continuous) | Period of the pendulum (continuous) | Diameter of Bob | | | Type of Bob | | | Same person dropping bob | | | Same person stopping stopwatch
By Tanya Waqanika
In this investigation, I will be looking at which factors affect the period (The time for one complete cycle, a left swing and a right swing) of a pendulum (a weight that dangles from a pivot so that it can swing freely). I will do this by tying a metal bob to a length of spring and dropping it from a certain height and measuring the time it takes to complete an oscillation, changing a variable for each of my preliminary investigations.
Independent Variable | Dependent Variable | Control Variables | Length of String (continuous) | Period of the pendulum (continuous) | Diameter of Bob | | | Type of Bob | | | Angle bob dropped from | | | Person stopping stopwatch | | | Person dropping bob | | | Height Bob is dropped from |
Preliminary Investigations
Preliminary One: Length of Strong
Results Table | Time of Period (seconds) | Length of String | Trial 1 | Trial 2 | Trial 3 | Ranges | Averages (mean) | 10cm | 0.87 | 0.69 | 0.87 | 0.69-0.87 | 0.81 | 20cm | 1.01 | 1.02 | 1.01 | 1.01-1.02 | 1.01 | 30cm | 1.32 | 1.42 | 1.32 | 1.32-1.42 | 1.35 | 40cm | 1.66 | 1.71 | 1.66 | 1.66-1.71 | 1.68 |
According to my graph, there is a positive correlation between the period of a pendulum and the length of string, meaning that as the length of the string increases, the period increases as well. The gradient of this graph is 0.9879. This would be ideal for my main investigation as there is a noticeable relationship between the length of string and period.
Preliminary Two: Angle Metal Bob is dropped from Independent Variable | Dependent Variable | Control Variables | Angle from which the bob is dropped from(continuous) | Period of the pendulum (continuous) | Diameter of Bob | | | Type of Bob | | | Same person dropping bob | | | Same person stopping stopwatch