Pendulum Lab

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Pendulum Lab
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How would you define pendulum?

• Something hanging from a fixed point which when
  pulled back and released, is free to swing down
  by gravity and then out and up because of a
  tendency to stay in motion.

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What are the parts of a pendulum?

• Mass - otherwise known as a bob
• String - bob is attached to
• Fixed point does not move

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Fixed point
string
bob
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How does it work?

• When bob is pulled back and let go, gravity
  accelerates it back to the original position.
• The momentum built up by gravity causes the mass
  to swing in the opposite direction to a height
  equal to the original position. The force is
  inertia.

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What is the period of a pendulum?

• One swing of the pendulum over and back.

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What is the frequency of a pendulum?

• The number of back and forth swings in a certain
  length of time.

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What variables affect the rate of a pendulums
swing?

• Length of the Pendulum
• Starting angle of the pendulum
• Mass of the body at the end of the pendulum
• Force of Gravity pulling the pendulum down.

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Where do you see pendulums in everyday life? How
are the useful?

• Swing sets
• Grandfather clocks
• Swinging a baseball bat
• Circus trapeze
• Useful because
• In time keeping

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Questions about pendulums?

• How does changing the length of the string affect
  the period?
• How does changing its starting point or angle
  affect the period?
• How can you get the shortest period?
• How can you get the longest period?