Physical Science

Lab Report Model                                               Pendulum Lab

               

INTRODUCTION

Purpose:  This experiment attempted to determine the effect of mass, amplitude, and length…….

 

Hypothesis:  It was expected that:

1.       Increasing the mass of the pendulum would… the period …

2.       Increasing the amplitude of the pendulum would … the period ….

3.       Increasing the length of the pendulum would … the period …

 

METHODS

Exp. Design:

                                Part 1:  The independent variable was…. The dependent variable was….

                                Part 2:  The independent variable was…. The dependent variable was….

                                Part 3:  The independent variable was…. The dependent variable was….

 

Materials:  metal pole, string, mass set, pendulum clamp …..

 

Procedure:

Part 1:  A table top pendulum was assembled.  (see diagram)  A string approximately one meter in length was obtained…..

                Part 2:  …………….

                Part 3: ………………..

 

Diagrams: Insert Diagram here

 

RESULTS

Written Observ.  (record observations only if you observed them do not make up observations just to fill this section of the lab report.  You may not have any written observations, it depends on the lab and how observant the people doing the lab are)

Part 1:  It was observed that…..

                Part 2:  It was observed that…..

                Part 3:  It was observed that…..

 

Chemical Equation:  There were no relevant chemical equations for this lab

 

Data Tables:

Part 1:  See data table titled …..       on page ……

                Part 2:  See data table titled …..       on page ……

                Part 3:  See data table titled …..       on page ……

 

Calculations:

                Period……..

                                The slope of the graph of Period vs. Mass (hint you calculated slope 3 times)

                                                ( don’t forget formula ….. page ………)

                               

                                ……………….. list all calculations and where they can be found

 

Graphs: three graphs were constructed

                Period vs. mass see page…………….

                Period vs. amplitude see page…………….

                Period vs. length see page…………….

               

 

 

DISCUSSION

Data Analysis:  According to the data collected in the lab

                                Part 1:  Increasing the mass of the pendulum resulted in………..

                                Part 2:  Increasing the amplitude of the pendulum resulted in………..

                                Part 3:  Increasing the length of the pendulum resulted in………..

 

Graphical Analysis:

Part 1:  The graph of period vs. mass appeared to be ………This suggested a mathematical relationship of ………….. The slope of the line was equal to……………

 

Part 2:  The graph of period vs. amplitude appeared to be ………This suggested a mathematical relationship of ………….. The slope of the line was equal to……………

 

Part 3:  The graph of period vs. length appeared to be ………This suggested a mathematical relationship of ………….. To verify a fourth graph was plotted of ……………..

 

The graph of period² vs. length appeared to be ………This suggested a mathematical relationship of ………….. The slope of the line was equal to……………

 

Error Analysis:  

Some sources of error in the lab were…. A solution to the error was…….

 

Evaluation of

The hypothesis:

The first hypothesis was found to be (correct / incorrect) Increasing the mass of the pendulum …………….

The second hypothesis was found………..

The third hypothesis was found……………..

 

Conclusion

Statement:  The period is effected by ………. The lab was (successful  / unsuccessful) why? Reliable / unreliable why? Repeatable / not repeatable why?

 

QUESTIONS

1. How did the mass of the pendulum effect its period?

 

2. How did the amplitude of the pendulum effect its period?

 

3. How did the length of the pendulum effect its period?

 

4. If you wanted to construct a pendulum whose period was exactly one second long, What mass,  amplitude, and length of string would you use?

 

5. Try to explain why changing the mass of the pendulum caused it to behave as it did.

 

6. Try to explain why changing the amplitude of the pendulum caused it to behave as it did.

 

7. Try to explain why changing the length of the pendulum caused it to behave as it did.

 

8. Try to design a mechanism to use the pendulum inside of a grandfather clock.  Draw a sketch to illustrate your mechanism, and describe how it works.