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Objective:
Objective:
To determine the mass of earth by calculating the period of a pendulum. Students will construct their own pendulums and use their data to calculate the mass of Earth. They will then calculate their weight on other planets, and determine how far they could throw a projectile on each planet.
To determine the mass of earth by calculating the period of a pendulum. Students will construct their own pendulums and use their data to calculate the mass of Earth. They will then calculate their weight on other planets, and determine how far they could throw a projectile on each planet.
Background:
Background:
A pendulum is swinging mass attached to a string. When let go from an angle, the pendulum will swing. One complete back and forth movement is called the period. The angle of release, mass of the weight and length of string will all affect the period.
Materials:
Materials:
ringstand string washer (s) bean bags
ringstand string washer (s) bean bags
Procedure:
Procedure:
Mass of Earth
Mass of Earth
- remember-in the scientific world we use the metric system. All measurements should be made using the specified unit.
- Construct your pendulum
- attach your washer (s) to the string, leaving all excess string on one side.
- tie your string to the ring portion of your ringstand, and cut all excess string
- Measure the length of your string, and input into your form.
- your measurement should be the total length of the string when tied to the ringstand-from top to the CENTER of your WASHER.
- Measure the time for 10 full pendulum periods. Just release-do not throw.
- a SWING is the time it takes for a complete back and forth.
- use this time to determine the individual period. Hint-this is simple division. DO NOT just do a single swing!!!
- Enter results into form, then view spreadsheet for the mass of earth.
- Your average pendulum swing, acceleration and calculated mass of earth will appear in the CLICK ME tab, based on your findings.
- How far off were you?
- Graphs can be found for Acceleration and Period on the additional tabs.
CORRECTIONS: click on 'correcting spreadsheet errors' above
- Make sure your numbers make sense! If not-go in and fix them!
Extension
Extension
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