Pendulum Lab

Unit one of the physics/precalculus block begins with a pendulum lab designed to allow students to learn to collect and analyze data. Along the way, students will learn some of the pitfalls of the collection and analyzation process.

Students are asked to determine what factors affect the motion of a pendulum. Eventually, these factors are narrowed down to mass of the pendulum, the angle at which the pendulum is released, and the length of the pendulum.

Using stopwatches, the students determine the average period of a pendulum for each of the three lab activities. Students use the statistical capabilities of a TI-82 or TI-83 calculator to graph mass vs. period, angle vs period, and length vs period.

From this data, students are asked to determine if the graph indicates the particular lab activity was a factor in the period of the pendulum and find a mathematical model for the particular factor.

Once students have determined a mathematical model, we usually see how accurate the model is by testing it in the lab. In the image below, Mr. Rynearson has a pendulum 2.4 meters in length. He as asked the students to use their model to predict the period of the pendulum.

Since the purpose of the lab is to allow students to discover the process of collecting and analyzing data, we don't want to share all of those secrets here. However, if you are an educator or interested in this activity and wish to have more information, send an e-mail to jrynear@lps.org or jwelker@lps.org.