SHM - Pendulum

A pendulum is a body that swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity.
The motion of a pendulum can be described as simple harmonic motion when the amplitude of the oscillations is small.
The period of a pendulum depends only on the length of the string and the strength of the gravitational acceleration

Factors Affecting the Period of a Pendulum Experimentation

The figure to the right shows part of a system consisting of a bob hanging from a light string which is located on Earth. You wish to experimentally determine how to change the frequency of the swinging pendulum.

(a) Describe the experimental procedure that you would use. In your description, state equipment you would use, the measurements you would make, how you would use the equipment to make them and how you would determine the frequency from those measurements.

(b) You next wish to discover which parameters of a pendulum affect its frequency. Indicate one parameter of the given pendulum system that could be varied. Describe how you would conduct the experiment, and indicate how you would analyze the data to show whether there is dependence. Justify your answer.

(c) One skill to focus on during this data collection opportunity is how to identify possible sources of error in your data collection. While collecting data, closely examine how you could work to eliminate the system or random error in your data.

Factors Affecting Period of an Inertial Balance Experimentation

The figure to the right shows an inertial balance. By directly measuring an object's inertia in microgravity, you are indirectly measuring its mass. The device employed to measure inertia and, thereby, mass is the inertial balance. You wish to experimentally determine how to change the frequency of the swinging inertial balance.

Using the data collected in class or from the simulation above, you should be able to describe the following:

Relationship amongst the position v. time, velocity v. time and acceleration v. time graphs.
The forces acting at various positions while oscillating.
How energy moves between various storage (potentials) and transition (kinetic) phases.
Relationship between the acceleration and displacement while oscillating.
BONUS: Relationship between the velocity and displacement while oscillating.