Dependence of Period on Size of Oscillation: Observational Experiment

Aim

The aim is to establish a rule relating the size (or amplitude) of oscillation and the period of oscillation of a pendulum.

Prior Knowledge

  1. Measurement uncertainty.

Description of the Experiment

Your objective is to discover a rule relating the period of oscillation to the size of oscillation of the pendulum. The experiment involves allowing the pendulum to swing at different angles of displacement from a centre line. The mass of the bob is kept the same throughout. You should take data to observe how the period of oscillation and the angle of oscillation are related.

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Questions

  1. Definitions

    What is one period? This is just a choice which must be made so that we can be consistent throughout. One period will be chosen to be the time the pendulum takes to complete one oscillation. In other words: the time taken to travel from any starting point back to that point, travelling in the same direction.

  2. Dependent and Independent variable?

    Does the period depend on the angle or does the angle depend on the period?

  3. What is the relation between the variables?

    Try fitting different sorts of curves to the data and see which gives the best fit.