Your task:
You will be investigating factors that affect the time it takes for a pendulum to complete one full swing
(there and back).
This time is called the time period.
Your report should include
a. Variables that you think will affect the time period.
b. Which variables you are going to investigate (between two and three for this report).
c. A prediction for each relationship you investigate
d. A diagram or photo to show the equipment used.
e. Tables and graphs of results.
f.
A conclusion where you comment on your results (referring to your data and comparing
findings to your prediction).
g. A brief bit of research where you compare your findings with what is already known about
pendulums (DO THIS LAST)
This is not intended to be an onerous task.
It is meant to get you working at a higher level of enquiry
than that of GCSE and closer to that of A-Level Physics.
abilities and the way in which you study.
It will also help us to get a feel for your
This should take up no more than 5 hours of your time.
Practical tips:
The best way to make a cheap pendulum is using a bit of cotton and a blob of Blu-Tack or a
washer (or any other suitable “massive” material that is quite dense).
upper inside of a door frame (carefully so as not to damage the
surface; I recommend a six inch nail and a **sledge hammer).
In order to measure the time period accurately, I suggest you do
not try to time just a SINGLE swing of the pendulum.
think of a way of reducing error in your measurements.
**AWESOME JOKE
Try and
This could be connected to the