Pendulum Motion Lab Report
HSC PHYSICS
2011
HSC PHYSICS
2011
PENDULUM MOTION
BY NATHAN LOCKE
Image taken from http://www.practicalphysics.org/go/Experiment_480.html
Pendulum Motion
Aim: To determine the rate of acceleration due to gravity by using a pendulum.
Background Information:
Equation One:
T=2πlg
Where
T = the period of the pendulum (s). This is the time taken for the pendulum to return to its starting position. l = length of the pendulum g = the rate of acceleration due to gravity (ms-2) * In order to find the acceleration due to gravity, the equation must be rearranged to look like this, and give “g” as the subject: g=4π2lT2 Procedure: 1. Mass to stop the stand falling over
Mass to stop the stand falling over
Protractor (attached) …show more content…
The gradient of our graph was:
m= y2-y1x2-x1 = 1-0.564.16-2.25=0.23
2. In order for “g” to be the gradient of our graph, the y-axis had to be changed to “4π2l”, or the final gradient value needed to be multiplied by 4π2. 3. The rate of acceleration due to gravity for our experiment:
g=4π21.004.16=9.49 ms-2 g=4π20.933.76=9.76 ms2 g=4π20.853.35=10.02ms2 This left an average value for the acceleration due to gravity, as 9.76ms2.
Discussion Questions This investigation was best conducted in a team, as it required lots of things to be done at once. The mass had to be dropped at the right angle, the timer started, and the timer stopped at the same position as it started from, and the mass had to be dropped parallel to the bench top, so it wouldn’t hit the bench. Although there are benefits of conducting this experiment in teams, this experiment could be better conducted as an individual. The timer had to start the instant that the mass was dropped, as to get an accurate reading, and if the one person was to do both of these things, it would be much easier to achieve this
2011
HSC PHYSICS
2011
PENDULUM MOTION
BY NATHAN LOCKE
Image taken from http://www.practicalphysics.org/go/Experiment_480.html
Pendulum Motion
Aim: To determine the rate of acceleration due to gravity by using a pendulum.
Background Information:
Equation One:
T=2πlg
Where
T = the period of the pendulum (s). This is the time taken for the pendulum to return to its starting position. l = length of the pendulum g = the rate of acceleration due to gravity (ms-2) * In order to find the acceleration due to gravity, the equation must be rearranged to look like this, and give “g” as the subject: g=4π2lT2 Procedure: 1. Mass to stop the stand falling over
Mass to stop the stand falling over
Protractor (attached) …show more content…
The gradient of our graph was:
m= y2-y1x2-x1 = 1-0.564.16-2.25=0.23
2. In order for “g” to be the gradient of our graph, the y-axis had to be changed to “4π2l”, or the final gradient value needed to be multiplied by 4π2. 3. The rate of acceleration due to gravity for our experiment:
g=4π21.004.16=9.49 ms-2 g=4π20.933.76=9.76 ms2 g=4π20.853.35=10.02ms2 This left an average value for the acceleration due to gravity, as 9.76ms2.
Discussion Questions This investigation was best conducted in a team, as it required lots of things to be done at once. The mass had to be dropped at the right angle, the timer started, and the timer stopped at the same position as it started from, and the mass had to be dropped parallel to the bench top, so it wouldn’t hit the bench. Although there are benefits of conducting this experiment in teams, this experiment could be better conducted as an individual. The timer had to start the instant that the mass was dropped, as to get an accurate reading, and if the one person was to do both of these things, it would be much easier to achieve this