Del Mar

8th Grade Science

Name: Yanai Perry Date: 9.24.14 Per: 3

Goals - To 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 decreasing 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 of a pendulum.

Dependent variable = responding variable -what I am measuring

My controlled variables are: Length of the pendulum, starting

angle

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Controlled variables are everything I am keeping the same

Starting Data
Independent Variable

Starting Value

Incremental change

Weight of the bob

15.4g

+15.3g

Dependent variable = the period of the pendulum (swing time)

Controlled Variables
Length of Pendulum

Value
67.3

Experimental Data
Trial

Independent
variable = Weight
of Pendulum
15.4 g

Time of 5 swings (s)

Test 1

Test 2

8.633
seconds

8.871
seconds

Average time
for 5 swings (s)

The Period (s)

8.752
seconds

1.75

(Average time for 1

swing)

30.8 g

46.2 g

61.6 g

77 g

8.647
seconds
8.845
seconds
9.105
seconds
9.231
seconds

8.700
seconds
8.933
seconds
9.353
seconds
9.175
seconds

8.673
seconds
8.889
seconds
9.229
seconds
9.203
seconds

1.734
1.770
1.845
1.840

The Dependence of the Period of the

Pendulum on the Weight of the Bob
Period (Average time for 1 swing

1.9
1.845

1.8

1.75

1.7

1.734

1.84

1.77

1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1
0

3
Number of Washers

Analysis
The period of a pendulum is the time it takes for the pendulum to one side and come
back. In this lab we measured if the mass of the bob affects the period of the pendulum.
My hypothesis was that increasing the mass of the bob would affect the period of the
pendulum by shortening it. To change the mass of the bob, I added 1 washer for every
trial. To keep the control variables the same, the same person always dropped the
pendulum, and the same person always timed the period. My data shows that the mass
of the bob didnt noticeably affect the time of the period. In the first trial, the bob
weighed 15.4 grams and the period was 1.75 seconds. In the fifth trial, the bob weighed
77 grams and the period was 1.84 seconds. There was a slight change in the time of the
period however it was not noticeable and increased instead of decreases, so my
hypothesis was wrong. Other groups in the class had changed other variables and there
were different results changed the time of the period. One group had changed the
starting height of the pendulum and there was no change in the period. Another group
changed the length of the pendulum and a consistent rise. The time of the period
increased as the length of the pendulum increased. Looking at the Physics Lab webpage
on pendulums shows that the period of the pendulum is affected by its length. As the
length of the pendulum increases, the time of the period also increases. In conclusion, the
period of a pendulum is affected by it length and not its mass.

1. To turn in your assignment, delete the procedures section and the analyze and
conclude section. Paste in your analysis and conclusion in paragraph form. Paste in
your excel graph and go to Edmodo find the assignment and hit the turn-in button,
then attach your word document with the graph pasted into it and turn it in.