Abstract: In this lab, we explored error analysis both theoretically and experimentally by measuring the period of a pendulum.

We measured with the amount of time it took for a pendulum to swing one full period with a stop watch. After repeating this measurement 20 times, we then recorded the amount of time it took for the pendulum to swing 20 full periods. We then compared the standard deviation of the mean in both cases to determine which method reduced the most error. he method of measuring 20 periods of the pendulum proved the most effective in reducing error, because only one estimate was needed in determining the peak of the pendulum!s swing instead of 20 estimates. We then calculated the theoretical period of a pendulum and the theoretical error. As expected this error was less than either case of our experimental error.