PASCO ME-9502, Manual, Page: 64 / 94

S t a t i c s S y s t e m E x p . 1 1 A : S i m p l e H a r m o n i c M o t i o n – P h y s i c a l P e n d u l u m
®
60
012-12876B
Extension: Period of Oscillation for Large Angles
The motion of a physical pendulum is simple harmonic motion for small angles. When the angle becomes larger,
sin
 
. How does the period of oscillation for a physical pendulum vary as the initial angle of swing increases?
Equipment Needed
Setup
1. Slide the Balance Arm pivot to one end of the beam, and mount the pivot in a top corner of the Statics Board.
2. Use a dry erase marker pen or a pencil to draw the outline of the pivot base onto the board.
3. Hold the dry erase pen or pencil at the end of the beam and perpendicular to the board, and move the beam
and pen so you draw an arc from the bottom corner of the board to the opposite top corner.
4. After you draw the arc, remove the Balance Arm and place the base of the Force Wheel into the outline of the
pivot base. Level the Force Wheel.
Item Item
Statics Board Force Wheel
Balance Arm Stopwatch (ME-1234)
Pencil or Dry Erase Marker Pen Thread
2. Draw an arc.
3. Replace the
Balance Arm with the
Force Wheel and use
a thread from the
Force Wheel to
determine the angles.
4. Put a mark
every 5°.
Balance Arm
Pivot
1. Draw the
outline of the
pivot base.
Figure 11.4: Large Angle Oscillation Setup