Pendulum Period
Sections
1. Setup
2. Hypothesis
3. Hardware Check
4. Changing Mass
5. Changing Length
6. Understanding
Sections
1. Setup
2. Hypothesis
3. Hardware Check
4. Changing Mass
5. Changing Length
6. Understanding
1. Setup
Instructions Read the introduction | The period of a pendulum is how long it takes for it to go through a full swing. If we start with the pendulum suspended on one side and release it, then this is how long it takes to swing to the other side and back. We're going to observe how changing the mass and the length of the pendulum affects the period.
Connect the pendulum sensor to digital pin 2 of your Arduino.  |
2. Hypothesis
Instructions Select a hypotheses for each parameter Goals Select a hypotheses for varying the mass.
Select a hypotheses for varying the length.
| The next sections will use a sensor to time the period of a pendulum. The sensor will measure how long it takes
for the pendulum to complete one half of a full swing, or period. Then we'll average a few half periods to get a value
for the full period. This will help up smooth out small differences so we can see the overall picture better.
Before we start the experiment, let's form hypotheses for the behavior of the pendulum when we change its mass
or length.
When the mass of the pendulum increases, the period will When the length of the pendulum increases, the period will |
3. Hardware Check
Goals Arduino plugged in and Infrared Pendulum Sensor connected to digital pin 2.
| Please plug in your Arduino if you haven't already and attach an Infrared Pendulum Sensor to digital pin 2.
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4. Changing Mass
Instructions Record data for each row in the table Goals Collect data for each row in the table
| Each washer is about 10 grams. So for the 100 gram row in the table you'll add 10 washers to the pendulum.
Here's the procedure we'll follow:
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5. Changing Length
Instructions Record data for each row in the table Goals Collect data for each row in the table
| In this section switch back to 10 washers on the pendulum. We'll change the length, but keep the weight the same.
The pendulum rod is 30 cm long. For the other lengths in the table, just clip the washers higher on the rod at the listed length. For the 18 cm row in the table, clip the washers so they're 18 cm from the top of the pendulum rod. Here's the procedure we'll follow:
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6. Understanding
Goals Answer all questions
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How do your hypotheses compare to your experimental results? Did the experiment confirm your hypotheses? How?
Experiments can expose real-world effects that were unaccounted for, or purposely simplified in the theoretical model.
What effects can you think of that may affect the movement of a pendulum that aren't included in a simple model?
If you haven't already, try the pendulum simulation lesson and compare your experimental data with the simulation.
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7. Lesson Done
Instructions You have completed the lesson. You may scroll up to review the lesson. |
Notepad: You can write any notes you'd like:
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