Pendulum Lab

Variable Mass:
Period vs. Mass
Theta Length Mass Time
10 0.5 0.1 1.18 2.5

Period (seconds)
10 0.5 0.5 1.18
2
10 0.5 1.0 1.18
10 0.5 1.5 1.18 1.5
10 0.5 1.7 1.18
10 0.5 2.0 1.18 1
10 0.5 2.1 1.18 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Mass (kg)

Variable Angle

Theta Length Mass Time

5 0.5 1 1.18 Period vs. Angle
10 0.5 1 1.18 2.6
15 0.5 1 1.18 2.4
Period (seconds)
2.2
20 0.5 1 1.19 2
25 0.5 1 1.19 1.8
30 0.5 1 1.20 1.6
1.4
35 0.5 1 1.21 1.2
40 0.5 1 1.22 1
45 0.5 1 1.23 0 10 20 30 40 50

Angle (degrees)
Variable Length

Theta Length Mass Time Period vs. Length

10 0.5 1 1.18 2.60
10 0.7 1 1.40 2.40
10 0.9 1 1.58 2.20
Period (seconds)

10 1.1 1 1.75 2.00

10 1.3 1 1.90
1.80
10 1.5 1 2.04
1.60
10 1.7 1 2.18
1.40
10 1.9 1 2.30
1.20
10 2.1 1 2.42
10 2.3 1 2.53 1.00
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Length (metres)
The only variable that seems to affect time is the length of the string on which the mass swings.
However, the relationship as it was graphed (Period as a function of length) is not linear, so it was
hard to draw a meaningful conclusion from the graph. When graphing period as a function of the
square root of length, the line magically straightens! Incredible!

Period vs square root of length

2.60

2.40

2.20

2.00
Period (seconds)

1.80

1.60

1.40

1.20

1.00
0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50 1.60
Square root of length (metres)

is the relationship, where t is the time period, L is the length, and g is

the gravitational field strength.