012-06379B
Photogate Timer
23
®
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
-Photogate timer
-Meter stick.
-Pendulums of various masses and lengths (the pendulum bob should be no more than 3 cm in diameter)
Introduction
In this experiment, you will investigate two aspects of pendulum motion.
First you will investigate the relationship between pendulum length, pen-
dulum mass, and the period of oscillation. Then you will determine
whether mechanical energy is conserved as the pendulum swings.
Procedure
Part 1: Period of Oscillation versus Mass and Length
c
Measure the mass of the pendulum bob. Record this value as m in Table
10.1.
d
Set up the pendulum and photogate as shown in Figure 10.1. For best
results, the pendulum should be suspended from two points as shown.
This helps keep the swing of the pendulum in the plane perpendicular to
the photogate.
e
Measure and record L, the length of the pendulum. (If you are suspending
the bob from two points, L is the distance from the center of mass of the
bob to the point midway between the points of suspension.)
f
Set the Photogate Timer to GATE mode. Adjust the height of the photo-
gate so the bob interrupts the photogate beam as it swings.
g
Switch the Timer to PENDULUM mode. Start the bob swinging, but keep
the swings relatively small.
h
Press the RESET button on the Timer. Note the first time displayed. This
is the period of the pendulum, the time for one complete oscillation. Repeat this measurement sev-
eral times by pressing the RESET button and recording the first time measured. Take the average of
these measured times to determine T, the period of the pendulum. Record T in Table 10.1.
i
Change the mass of the pendulum bob and repeat the mea-
surement. Do this for several different mass values, keeping
the length constant.
j
Using one of the masses you used from a previous measure-
ment, change the string length and remeasure the period. Do
this for at least 5 different string lengths.
Part 2: Conservation of Mechanical Energy
c
Use a long string (at least one meter long), to suspend the
pendulum between the photogate as shown on Fig 10.1.
Make and attatch a rigid protractor as shwon on Fig 10.1.
This protractor can be created by photocoping the angular
readings of a compass onto a piece of white paper before
attatching it to a rigid board by means of adhesive. This
compass-board will be used to keep track of
θ
, the angle
between the string and the vertical..
d
Measure L, the length of the pendulum.
LED comes on
Photogate
LED goes off
Meter Stick
Experiment 10: Pendulum Motion
Figure 10.2: Measuring
Δ
Δ
Δ
Δ
Δ
d
Δ
d
L
Protractor
Protractor
Detail
Thread
Figure 10.1: Equipment