For this research investigation I have chosen to focus my study on physics as this is an area that I am very interested in. When presented with this task I found it very difficult to settle on a topic that addressed the criteria of the assessment correctly. With the assistance of my teacher I was shown an experiment that investigated the value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the earth, and I have used this as the basis of my assessment.
The value of acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the earth is 9.8 m/s/s. A value for acceleration due to gravity can be measured by observing the motion of a simple pendulum. The aim of my investigation is to determine whether the length of string used for a simple pendulum, affects the simple pendulums capacity to define the value of acceleration due to gravity. The simple pendulum model predicts that the period squared is linearly proportional to the length of the string used for the pendulum. The aim is to verify this prediction. This can be done by measuring the period for various lengths of string, and checking that the predicted relationship is correct.
Aim:
To determine whether the length of string used for a simple pendulum, affects the simple pendulums capacity to define the value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the earth.
Hypothesis:
The length of string used for a simple pendulum will have no affect its ability to determine the value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the earth.
Risk Assessment