Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Computer Lab Graphing for Pendulum Lab

Before you begin, you should calculate the averages and uncertainties for all of your trials for period.  In addition, you should divide by the number of swings so that your average periods are for just one swing.

Make 2 graphs:  one of Period vs. Mass and another of Period vs. String Length. Besides all of the usual components of a good graph, include uncertainties in your graphs, draw a line of best fit (unclick "connect points"), and include an annotation. 

Finally, look at the String Length Graph and determine the shape of the line.  If it looks like a straight line, you may simply find the slope of the line.  If it looks like an exponential (x squared), square the lengths of the string and enter those as an additional column in your data table.  If it looks like 1/x, calculate 1/length for your 5 lengths and enter that in an additional column.  Whatever the function, do that function to the length data and enter it as an additional column.

Now make a 3rd graph that plots period vs. the modified data (the additional column).  If you picked the correct function, this technique should "straighten out" the line and you can find the slope of that new line.  You will now be able to write a "master equation" for the period of the pendulum.  For example if your original length data looked like an x squared function and the slope of your 3rd graph is 7.14, your master equation will look like this:   T  =  7.14 L^2 (only string length is squared).  Finally, you can check your "master equation" to make sure that it actually works for your data for period and string length.  Good luck!

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