Pendulum Lab Report - Konstantin Karasev

IV.MYP, 20.4.2023

Research question 1:
● How does the weight at the end of a pendulum affect how long it takes to oscillate?
Variables 1:
● Independent – weight
● Dependent – time
● Controlled – length of the pendulum string (20cm), no force applied while letting go of weight, angle at
which we let go of our pendulum, repeat measurements 3 times, method of recording time, making sure
that nothing moves the pendulum while it is oscillating.
Prediction/Hypothesis 1:
● I think that the time will stay the same, because if you drop two objects, the heavier one is not going to fall
faster, and I believe that the same logic applies here.

Research question 2:
● How does the length of a pendulum affect how long it it takes to oscillate?
Variables 2:
● Independent – length
● Dependent – time
● Controlled – same weight for all measurements (though that shouldn’t theoretically matter), no force
applied while letting go of weight, same angle at which we let go of our pendulum, repeat measurements
3 times, method of recording time, making sure that nothing moves the pendulum while it is oscillating.

Prediction/Hypothesis 2:
● I think that the time will increase with the length, since the weight has to travel a longer distance each
time.
Equipment List:
● pendulum stand, string, phone (timer), weights, ruler

Diagram - taken from Chris’ group due to unfortunate circumstances

Method
● First of all, we went to set up our pendulum. After setting the stand onto the table, we tied one side of a
string onto the horizontal part of our pendulum, and the other to a 50 gram weight. We used the 50 gram
weight since it wasn’t too large or to small, and had two hooks, one of which we could tie the string to and
 the other which we could add more weights on.
● After this, we took the string and wrapped it multiple times around the horizontal part of the pendulum
stand, until the string was our preferred distance - 20cm. We picked 20cm because it was long enough for
the oscillations to be easy to record, but short enough where the length of the string didn’t start causing
trouble with hitting parts of the table.
● Next, we started with our measurements. Each time, we would put the weight at around a 45° angle before
letting go of it. Riso was the designated timer-person and wrote down all the measurements while I
operated the pendulum. The way we would measure is, the moment I let go of the pendulum, I would say
“Go”, and the moment the pendulum completed it’s 5th oscillation, I would say “Stop”. This way, Richard
could focus 100% of his attention on pressing the timer button on his phone, rather than needing to look at
the pendulum. The reason we needed to wait for 5 oscillations rather than just recording it after one is
because especially on the shorter lengths of the string, our pendulum would swing by too quickly and we
wouldn’t have the time to time our stopwatch.
● We would also repeat each measurement 3 times. This is in order to minimize the silly mistakes we could
have made in one measurement. We also made sure to follow our controlled variables, like making sure the
pendulum stand is steady throughout oscillation and applying no force while letting go of weight.
● After finishing up and recording all the measurements from the first part of the experiment, we moved on
to the second one. In this segment, rather than changing the weight, we are changing the length of the
string, and the way we set up our pendulum is really helpful with this. Since we wrapped the string around
the horizontal rod, regulating length was as simple as twisting or untwisting of our string, which saved a lot
of time and let us focus more on the important and more difficult parts of our experiment.
● When it comes to the actual measurements, we kept the 50g weight and still continued to use the 45°
angle for all measurements. We also continued to repeat every measurement 3 times, for the
aforementioned reasons.
● The measurements were done in intervals of 10cm, staring from 20cm and ending at 80cm. The reason we
used these intervals was because they were short enough to allow for enough different lengths, but were
long enough to see a noticeable difference in time between each length.

Results

Table #1 - Weight - time

Weight w (g) Δd = ±0.1 cm Time t (s) Δt=±0.01s
50.0 6.48
100.0 6.49
125.0 6.59
150.0 6.52
175.0 6.43
200.0 6.46

Table #2 - Length - time Time t (s) Δt=±0.01s

Length L(cm) Δd = ±0.1 cm Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
20.0 4.81 4.99 4.46 4.75
30.0 6.09 5.85 5.96 5.97
40.0 6.72 6.74 7.74 7.07
50.0 7.31 7.45 7.80 7.52
60.0 8.15 8.21 8.42 8.26
70.0 8.46 8.44 8.50 8.47
80.0 9.38 9.25 9.25 9.29
Analysis

𝐿
𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = 𝑇 = 2π 𝑔

4.75 20
𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 5
− 2π 9.8 0.95−0.89
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑦 (20𝑐𝑚) = 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
= 20
= 0.89
= 6. 742%
2π 9.8

9.29 80
𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 5
− 2π 9.8 1.85−1.80
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑦 (80𝑐𝑚) = 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
= 80
= 1.80
= 2. 7%
2π 9.8
Conclusion
Overall, both of my hypotheses were proven correct with our experiment. The first table
shows that there was a very minimal change in time, even though the weight was changed
dramatically. We can chalk this change in time to human error in our measurements. On the other
hand, the second table shows that the time does in fact increase with the length, which is further
𝐿
supported by the equation 𝑇 = 2π 𝑔
. This equation also shows that the time one oscillation
takes is completely independent from the weight, which further proves why the time on the first
table didn’t change. By looking at the two graphs made from our length vs time experiment, we
can see that T vs D is not linear, while T^2 vs L is. This is easily explainable because, when we
square T, we obviously have to square the other side of the equation too, which, if we simplify it,
2
4π 𝐿
gives us 𝑇^2 = 𝑔
- a linear equation.

Evaluation
After completing the experiment, I believe that me and my partner did a good job working on this project.
Our teamwork was solid, and we had clearly-defined roles which both of us carried out diligently. Furthermore,
we are proud of the method we used for setting up our apparatus, since it allowed us to regulate length very
easily and efficiently. Our method for collecting measurements was also accurate and efficient, because Riso
could focus on pressing the button at the exact moment that he hears my voice, which allows for more precise
measurements. We did run into some problems during the experiment, mainly with the weight hitting the side
of the table at longer lengths of the string, but that was fairly easily worked out with more careful handling of
the weight. The main errors that we could have missed throughout this experiment are random, like human
error of Riso’s reaction time. We could also have seen some systematic errors from either our phone stopwatch
(though I think that would be more common with physical ones), or from friction and air resistance affecting our
pendulum, though that would be very minimal. There could also theoretically be some elasticity coming from
the string, which would further skew our results. Even still, I believe that we did a great job of following our
controlled variables and keeping the experiment as accurate as it can be, and that is backed up by our
percentage discrepancy of just 6. 742% for our 20cm measurement, and then just 2. 7% for our 80cm
experiment, which I believe is very impressive and shows that the both the human error or the systematic errors
were minimal, and that our method was accurate. One big way that this experiment could be improved is to
make the horizontal rod that goes out of the pendulum stand longer, since if it is hanging off the side of the
table, it would put the string further away from the table, making the weight less likely to hit it, which was one
of the things that annoyed us the most during the experiment (as I explained earlier), and would be a massive
quality of life improvement if implemented. If I could use any equipment in the world, I would remove human
error completely by using a machine for the stopwatch. This could be done by rigging a laser to the stopwatch
which would control and stop the stopwatch exactly when the string passes it as it completes its first oscillation.
One good way we could realistically extend this experiment is trying out more variables. We already tested how
weight and length affects the pendulum, so why not do the same with the independent variable being the angle
at which we let go of the weight, or the amplitude at which propel it (though that might be difficult to do in our
lab.)