【精选】Sample-LabReport.pdfVIP

The Simple Pendulum 1 According to theory , the period of a simple pendulum is independent of mass and is dependent on the square root of its length; i.e. T = 2B%L/g, where T is the period of the pendulum, L is the length of the pendulum and g is the acceleration of gravity. A simple pendulum is set up in the laboratory to test this assertion. A vertical shaft is placed in a lab table using the provided receptacle. A horizontal bar is then connected to the vertical shaft with a clamp, and a string is attached to the horizontal bar. A mass is attached to the other end of the string and pulled back and let go, so that it executes (approximately) simple harmonic motion. The time required to complete 30 cycles (t) is measured with a stopwatch and recorded. To improve accuracy, three trials are completed for each measurement. The average of the recorded values of t for the three trials is then divided by 30 to obtain the period (T) of the motion. In the first part of the experiment, the length of the string is kept constant and different masses are attached to its end to determine the dependence (or lack thereof) of the period on mass. In the second part, the length of the string is varied, while keeping the mass constant in order to determine the dependence of the period on length. Graphs are drawn for period vs. mass and for period vs. length. A graph of log T vs. Log L is then drawn in order to determine the specific power dependence of T on L. The value obtained for this power is compared to the expected value of 1/2. Finally, a graph of T vs. %L is drawn. According to the equation above, the slope of this graph should be 2B/%g. Thus this slope can be used to calculate an experimental value for g,