Simple Harmonic Motion

Name:

Data Table 1

Length (m)	Time for 10 Swings (s)	Period (s)	Include Graph (See question 1A)

Data Analysis

Use the graphing software of your choice to create graph of the period versus the length. The shape of the graph may be different than any other you have done. Do a curve fit on the graph as a power function. The resulting graph is a half-parabola around the x-axis.

Include a screenshot of your graph in the space above.

Describe the equation from the graph in a complete sentence.

The square root of x can be written asx1/2. If the generic equation is y = kx1/2, give the specific equation using the actual variables in this data, instead of the generic "y" and "x."

Examine your graph.

What length pendulum would have a period of 1.0 s?

What period would be produced by a pendulum 1.5 m long?

Questions:

The equation for the period of a pendulum is

How does your equation from 1C compare to the pendulum equation?

Use the pendulum equation to calculate the period of a 1.50 m pendulum. Remember that the value of "g" is 9.8 m/s2.

Compare your calculated period (3B) to your data (2B) by using the graph you constructed. Describe the possible sources for error that could lead to differences.

The following data has been gathered by another lab group. Analyze this data using your graph as the reference. Describe the experimental error you detect in the group's data?

Length (m)	Period (s)	Response:
0.80	0.94
0.60	0.78
0.50	0.75
0.30	0.56
0.10	0.38