iLab at Iona Prep

The purpose of this lab is to examine the relationship between the mass of a pendulum and its period and also the length of a pendulum and its period.

Vocabulary:
Pendulum: a mass supported by a light string or wire which is free to swing.
Bob: the mass which swings
Period; The amount of time required for one complete swing.
Length of a pendulum: distance from the support to the center of the bob.

First we will examine the relationship between the mass of the pendulum and its period.

1. In the right frame you will see the beginning of the pendulum lab. Click on LAB
2. Add the period timer.
3. Set the mass of the pendulum to 1.0 kg if it is not already there.
4. Set the length of the pendulum to 1.0 meter.
5. Pull the pendulum from its rest position to 15 degrees and release it. Time its period and record it.
6. Keeping the length at 1.00 m, repeat the experiment with the angle at 15 degrees and with the mass at 0.7 kg, 0.5 kg, and 0.3 kg.
7. Tabulate your data. and answer the following question:
Question 1. How does the period of a pendulum depend upon the mass?
Conclusion:
The period of a pendulum appears to be (proportional to, inversely proportional to, independent of) the mass of the pendulum.

Second we will investigate the relationship between the length of the pendulum and its period.

8. Reset the mass of the pendulum to 1.0 kg
9. Set the length of the pendulum to 0.1 m.
10. Pull the pendulum out 15 degrees and release it. Record its period.
11. Keeping the angle at 15 degrees and the mass at 1.0 kilogram, repeat the experiment for lengths of 0.2 m, 0.3 m, 0.4 m, 0.5 m, 0.6 m, 0.7 m, 0.8 m, 0.9 m, and 1.0 m.
12. Tabulate your data and answer the following question:
Question 2: How does the period of a pendulum depend upon the length?
Conclusion:
The period of a pendulum appears to be (proportional to, inversely proportional to, independent of) the length of the pendulum.