Del Mar

8th Grade Science

Name: Rori Carlin Date Sept. 26, 2014

Per: 1

Goals - To develop the skills of a scientist

by reviewing the scientific method.
graphing with independent variable as x axis, and dependent variable as y axis
Introducing accuracy, reproducibility and significant figures
Problem
What affects the period of a pendulum?
period = the time a pendulum swings back and forth once
Materials
stand, string, washers, big paperclips, rulers, stop watch
Hypothesis
c I think that the weight of the bob will affect the period of
a pendulum by decreasing the period as the weight increases.
c Therefore, my independent variable is weight of the bob.
Independent variable = manipulated variable-what I am changing
c My dependent variable is period
Dependent variable = responding variable -what I am measuring
c My controlled variables are: the length of the string
Controlled variables are everything I am keeping the same
Procedure (note delete this section when turning in your assignment)
1. Decide who will be the timer, pendulum releaser and recorder. Do not change these
roles during the trials
2. Tie one end of a string to a clamp on a stand. Tie the other end to a large
paper clip. Pull out one side of the paper clip to serve as a hook.
3. Place a metal washer on the hook, and let it hang down. If necessary, raise
the clamp so that the bob swings freely.
4. Record the values of your controlled variables (the variable you are not testing.)
The controlled variables are the variables you are not changing
these could include mass of bob, length of pendulum, start
height of the bob
5. Release the bob gently, without pushing it. During a complete swing, the bob
will move from its starting position and back again. Your partner should time
5 complete swings.
6. Check your experiment for accuracy (have you accurately counted the swings? etc.) and
reproducibility (run the test again - did you get approximately the same answer?)
7. Once you are convinced your data is accurate and reproducible, record the time for 5
swings. Then divide that time by 5 to find the average time for one swing.
8. Repeat steps 5 -7, changing your independent variable. -Make sure you do not change
the values of your controlled variables and make sure your incremental change is large
enough.

Carlin, Victoria

Monday, October 6, 2014 at 8:24:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time

70:56:81:af:da:b3

Starting Data
Independent Variable
The weight of the bob

Starting Value
14.4g

Incremental change
13.4g

Dependent variable = the period of the pendulum (swing time)

Controlled Variables
Length of the string

Value
56.7cm

Experimental Data
Trial Independent variable Time of 5 swings (s)
= weight
Test 1
Test
2
1
14.4g
8 sec.
8 sec.

Average time
for 5 swings
(s)
8 sec.

The Period (s)

(Average time
for 1 swing)
1.6 sec.

29.0g

7 sec.

7 sec.

7 sec.

1.4 sec.

42.6 g

7 sec.

8 sec.

7.5 sec.

1.5 sec.

56.7g

8 sec.

7 sec.

7.5 sec.

1.5 sec.

72.5g

8 sec.

8 sec.

8 sec.

1.6 sec.

Graph your results- title and label your graph!

(Whatever your independent variable is, it
goes on the x-axis & the period on the y-axis.)
See my download file: graph in excel. Dont
forget units!
The period of a pendulum is the time it takes for the bob to swing back and forth once.
In this lab, we hypothesized that when the weight of the bob is increased, the period will
increase. In this lab, the independent variable is the weight of the bob. We changed the weight
of the bob by adding more washers to the end of the pendulum. We kept the control variable
the same by swinging the bob from the same place each time and using the same string each
time to ensure that the length of the string was the same each time. My data shows that the
period was the same, at 1.6 seconds per swing, when the bob weight was 14.4g and when it
was 72.5g. Also, the fastest period was the second lowest bob weight, at 29.0g, whereas the
heaviest bob weight of 72.5g actually warranted the slowest period, as well the lightest bob
weight of 14.4g. This proves that my hypothesis was incorrect, and the weight of the bob
doesnt actually affect the duration of the period. Their could have been discrepancies in our
groups data because our group could have measured the angle of release. It is extremely
difficult to release the pendulum at the same spot every time and a nuance in the angle of
release could have resulted in a discrepancy of the data. Also, the timing could have been a bit
off. It is extremely difficult to be precise when timing the duration of the period, and there
could have been some discrepancies there. In conclusion, the period of a pendulum is not
affected by the weight of the bob.

Carlin, Victoria

Monday, October 6, 2014 at 8:24:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time

70:56:81:af:da:b3

The dependance of the period on weight

1.65
1.6

14.4, 1.6

72.5, 1.6

period

1.55
1.5

42.6, 1.5 56.7, 1.5

The Period (s) (Average
time for 1 swing)

1.45
1.4

29, 1.4

1.35
0

20

40

60

weight

Carlin, Victoria

Monday, October 6, 2014 at 8:24:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time

70:56:81:af:da:b3

80