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Paperclips

1. The experiment investigated the relationship between the length of a paperclip pendulum and its period of oscillation by varying the number of connected paperclips. 2. Results showed that as the number (and length) of paperclips increased, the period of oscillation also increased, with periods ranging from 0.73 seconds for 4 paperclips to 1.07 seconds for 14 paperclips. 3. The relationship between length and period followed the theoretical equation for a simple pendulum, confirming that longer pendulums have longer periods than shorter pendulums.

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322 views4 pages

Paperclips

1. The experiment investigated the relationship between the length of a paperclip pendulum and its period of oscillation by varying the number of connected paperclips. 2. Results showed that as the number (and length) of paperclips increased, the period of oscillation also increased, with periods ranging from 0.73 seconds for 4 paperclips to 1.07 seconds for 14 paperclips. 3. The relationship between length and period followed the theoretical equation for a simple pendulum, confirming that longer pendulums have longer periods than shorter pendulums.

Uploaded by

Jadie Babyyy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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TITLE: Paper Clips

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the length, l, and the period, T, of paperclips.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS: paperclips, retort stand, needle, small block of wood, stopwatch.

THEORY: T = Kna

Where k and a are constants

n= number of paperclips

c=0.5

lgk=0.5
0.5
k=e

DIAGRAM:

DIAGRAM SHOWING SETUP OF APPARATUS

METHOD:

1. Apparatus was set up as seen above.


2. 12 paperclips were attached to the optical pin
3. The paperclips were set oscillating in one place.
4. The stop watch was used to measure the time oscillation
5. Steps 1-3 was repeated twice for various lengths
RESULTS:

TABLE 1: SHOWING RESULTS OF SIMPLE PENDULUM LAB

paperclips Time for 10 oscillations t AVG/ s Periodic


t1 /s t2 /s t1 + t 2 ÷ 2 Time
(T) / s
14 10:58 10:70 10:69 1.07
12 10:10 10:10 10:10 1:01
10 9:37 9:41 9:39 0:94
7 8:50 8:46 8:48 0:85
4 7:34 7:26 7:30 0:73

CALCULATIONS:

T=kna
Y= mx + c

Take logs
lg T= lg k + lg na
lg T= lg k + a lg n

y= c+ mx
y 2− y 1 1.05−0.80
Gradient, k, = = 0.04
x 2−x 1 = 13−6
Y-intercept, c,= 0.67

PRECAUTIONS:

1. The paperclips were displaced with a small angle.


2. Fans was switched off to reduce the air resistance.
3. The paperclips oscillated in a vertical plane only.
4. Experiment was repeated to minimize errors.

SOURCES OF ERROR:

1. Human errors occurred when measuring the period, T, by using a stopwatch.


DISCUSSION:

A simple pendulum is a mechanical arrangement that demonstrates periodic motion. Periodic


motion, is motion repeated in equal intervals of time. In each case the interval of time for a
repetition, or cycle, of the motion is called a period. The simple pendulum used in this experiment,
comprises paperclips suspended secured to a platform at its upper end of length ‘L’. In this
experiment, the number of paper clips were shown how it is related to the period of oscillation.

The swing rate, or frequency, of the pendulum is determined by its length. The longer the pendulum,
the slower the pendulum swings. Conversely the shorter the pendulum the faster the swing rate.
Hence, when more paperclips were used, there were longer periods and when there were less
paperclips, the periods were shorter. In this experiment, the pendulum paperclips were released at
an angle and left to oscillate. The countdown method was used to reduce action time error and also
to get in time with the rhythm of the pendulum. Additionally the pendulum was left to oscillate ten
times because 10 oscillations reduce the error in the result by a factor of 10. Lastly to ensure that
there was minimum error in the experiment, it was repeated to reduce the reaction time error.

CONCLUSION: The frequency, of the pendulum is determined by its length therefore, the number of
paperclips will have an effect on the period of oscillation.

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