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Date: 17/02/14
Aim: To investigate how the position of the pivot affects the period of oscillations of a
simple pendulum.
Meter rule with holes drilled in at 5cm intervals along its length
Stopper
Pin
Retort Stand
Stop-watch
Diagram:
point. When displaced to an initial angle and released, the pendulum will swing back and
forth with periodic motion. In this experiment the pendulum describes simple harmonic
motion. Its acceleration is directly proportional to its distance from a fixed point (i.e. its
distance from the central position of the ruler in its oscillation) and it always accelerates
The rule was displaced slightly so that the angle of displacement, , was treated as a
constant. T = kh
An oscillation is the distance a particle travels until it arrives at the same phase of motion
from which it began. The period, T, is the time it takes for one complete oscillation to
occur. Height, h, is the distance of the pivot from the centre of the rule.
Method:
1. The stopper with the pin placed through it was attached to the retort stand.
2. The meter rule was hung on the pin using one of the holes along its length.
3. The rule was slightly displaced so that it performed small oscillations in a vertical
plane.
4. The distance the centre of the ruler and the pivot and the time taken for 20
5. This was repeated until nine sets of readings were exacted and the readings were
recorded.
Name: Brandon Sookdeo
Results:Table 1 showing the values of height and time recorded and period (tavg/20)
Height / m Time taken for Time taken for Average time / s Period / s
20 oscillations /s 20 oscillations /s
1 2
0.45 32.1 32.5 32.3 1.62
0.40 31.4 31.7 31.6 1.58
0.35 31.1 31.3 31.2 1.56
0.30 30.8 30.9 30.9 1.55
0.25 30.5 30.7 30.6 1.53
0.20 31.6 31.8 31.7 1.59
0.15 34.1 34.3 34.2 1.71
T2h/ms h2/m
1.18 0.203
1.00 0.160
0.85 0.123
0.72 0.090
0.59 0.063
0.51 0.040
0.44 0.023
0.39 0.010
Variables:
Manipulated: Height.
Treatment of results:
Name: Brandon Sookdeo
y2 y1
Gradient = x2 x1
1.060.4
= 0.17500.0125
= 4.06
y-intercept = 0.35
4 2 2 2
T 2 h= (h + k )
g
4 2 2 4 2 2
T 2 h= h+ k
g g
y = mx + c
2
4
=m(gradient of line)
g
4 2
=4.06
g
2
g=9.72m s
4 2 2
And k =c (c is y-intercept)
g
4 2 2
k =0.35
g
Name: Brandon Sookdeo
When g=9.72
k =0.29
Precautions:
Name: Brandon Sookdeo
The windows in the room were closed to reduce errors due to environmental
factors.
The angle of displacement was small so that the experiment obeys the rules of
Sources of error:
Conclusion:
As the pivot moves further from the center of the ruler, the period decreases. Therefore
the position of the pivot affects the period of oscillation of a simple pendulum.