Pendulum

Motion of a Pendulum

Observe: How the length of the string affects the motion of the pendulum.
Use apparatus: To measure the time taken for the pendulum to make 10 swings.
Infer: That the length of the string affects the time takenfor the pendulum to make one
           swing.

Aim: To find out how the length of the string affects the motion of the pendulum.
Materials: A metal ball, three pieces of string (10cm, 15cm, 20cm),a retort stand, some
                 masking tape, a protractor, a stopwatch.

Procedures
1. Attach the metal ball to one end of the 10cm string.
2. Secure the other end of the string to retort stand.
3. Use the masking tape to attach a protractor to retort stand.
4. Use the stopwatch to record the time it takes for the pendulum to make 10 swings.
5. Repeat steps 1 to 5 using the 15cm string and the 20cm string.

Observation
1. 10cm string: Takes 3.66 seconds to make 10 swings.
2. 15cm string: Takes 4.72 seconds to make 10 swings.
3. 20cm string: Takes 5.31 seconds to make 10 swings.

The 20cm string took the longest time to make 10 swings, and the 10cm string took the shortest time to make 10 swings.

Conclusion
The gravitational force pulls the pendulum to center and therefore, the pendulum slows down and stop. The length of the string also effects the motion of the pendulum, the longer the string, the longer the time it takes.