DelMar8thGradeScienceNameRobertBuchananDate92514Per4

GoalsTo 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
I think that the weight of the bob will affect the period of

a pendulum by decrease the period as the weight increases.

Therefore, my independent variable is the weight of the bob.
Independent variable = manipulated variable-what I am changing

My dependent variable is the period.

Dependent variable = responding variable -what I am measuring

My controlled variables are: the length of the pendulum and

the start height.
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. Tieoneendofastringtoaclamponastand.Tietheotherendtoalarge
paperclip.Pulloutonesideofthepapercliptoserveasahook.
3. Placeametalwasheronthehook,andletithangdown.Ifnecessary,raise
theclampsothatthebobswingsfreely.
4. Recordthevaluesofyourcontrolledvariables(thevariableyouarenottesting.)
Thecontrolledvariablesarethevariablesyouarenotchangingthesecouldinclude
massofbob,lengthofpendulum,startheightofthebob

5. Releasethebobgently,withoutpushingit.Duringacompleteswing,thebob

willmovefromitsstartingpositionandbackagain.Yourpartnershouldtime
5completeswings.
6. Checkyourexperimentforaccuracy(haveyouaccuratelycountedtheswings?etc.)and
reproducibility(runthetestagaindidyougetapproximatelythesameanswer?)
7. Onceyouareconvincedyourdataisaccurateandreproducible,recordthetimefor5swings.
Thendivide thattimeby5tofindtheaveragetimeforoneswing.
8. Repeatsteps57,changingyourindependentvariable.Makesureyoudonotchangethe
valuesofyourcontrolledvariablesandmakesureyourincrementalchangeislargeenough.

StartingData
Independent Variable

Starting Value

Incremental change

Weightofthebob
Dependent variable = the period of the pendulum (swing time)
Controlled Variables
Length of pendulum

Value
50 centimeters

Start height
Iooo = graph

1 meter

ExperimentalData
Average time
for 5 swings (s)

The Period (s)

7.75

7.70

1.54

7.34

7.41

7.38

1.48

7.25

7.31

7.28

1.46

7.13

7.22

7.18

1.43

7.00

6.97

6.99

1.40

Trial

Time of 5 swings (s)

Independent
variable = weight
of the bob
1

7.65

Graph:

Test 1

Test

(Average time
for 1 swing)

The Effect of the Mass of the Bob on the Period of the Pendulum
2
1.8
1.6
The Period 1.4

1.54

1.48

1.46

1.43

1.4

1.2
1
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
Number of Washers

Analysis:
The period of the pendulum is the time it takes for the bob to travel
from its start angle and back again. In this lab we wanted to know if the
weight of the bob, start angle of the drop, and the length of the
pendulum would change the period of the pendulum. I hypothesized
that when the weight of the bob increased then the period would
decrease. To change the independent variable, my group used one big
paper clip and continuously added washers to the bob. We attached the
paperclip to the end of the string and knotted the paperclip through the
washers. To keep control variables the same we made sure to keep the
start angle at 1 meter from the ground. Also, we tried to keep the
length of the pendulum the same at half a meter. My data shows that
the weight of the bob slightly changed the period of the pendulum in a
negative correlation. This goes with my hypothesis because I
hypothesized that the period of the pendulum would decrease with
added weight. The other groups data was different from what my group
got. Group 7s data said that there was no slope when you add weight
to the bob, while group 1s data said that when you add weight there
would be a positive correlation. All three groups that measured the
mass of the bob and the effect it had on the period got different
answers. After looking at the Colorado website, I realized that the
weight of the bob should not effect the period. Groups 2 and 1s data is
inconsistent because we got different times for when we added weight.
Plus, my hypothesis is wrong because I said that when the weight of the
bob increased then the period would decrease. In the end, the period of
a pendulum is not affected by the weight of the bob.