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Page 4
Part 0: Construction
1. Take a single sheet of paper and roll it into a cone shape. Use a couple pieces of tape to secure the paper.
2. Using the pencil, make three (3) small holes approximately 3 cm from the top (open end) of the cone. The holes
should be equidistant from each other.
3. Take three (3) pieces of string that are of equal length (approximately 30 cm) and place one piece through each
of the three holes.
4. Tie all of the loose ends of the string together.
Part 1: Amplitude
1. Once constructed, place a single mass inside of the paper cone. This mass is known as the pendulum "bob"
(it "bobs" back and forth).
2. You are going to time 10 cycles (back and forth swings) of the pendulum.
3. Having your timer ready, hold your pendulum (by the string) at arm's length. Pull the bob a small distance away (small
amplitude) from where it is at rest (its vertical position) and release the bob. Start the timer when the bob returns to
where you released it.
4. Stop the timer after 10 periods. Record this time and the time for 1 period in the table below (total time divided by 10).
5. Pull the bob farther from its vertical (equilibrium) position, giving it a larger amplitude and release it.
6. Time 10 cycles and record your data in the table below.
7. From your data, how does amplitude affect the period of a pendulum?
Part 2: Length
1. Make the pendulum length significantly shorter so we can tell any change that might occur.
(If you make the change of length small any change in the period could be just timer error.)
2. Keeping the mass and amplitude (how far away you release the mass) constant, time 10 cycles
as you did before.
3. In the table below, record the time for 10 periods and the time for 1 period.
4. From your data, how does length affect the period of a pendulum?
Build Yourself a Pendulum! Lab (student handout continued)
Length of Pendulum Mass of Bob Amplitude Time for 10 cycles Period (Time for 1 cycle)
Long single mass small
Long single mass small
Long
Short
Length of Pendulum Mass of Bob Amplitude Time for 10 cycles Period (Time for 1 cycle)
Long single mass small
Short single mass small
