Date: ____________ Lab No.

: _______ SBA: __________

TOPIC: Simple Pendulum

PROBLEM STATEMENT: Three physics students: Mark, Luke, and John, went to the
playground after physics class to play on the swings. Unexpectedly, John asked the other boys to
tell him what the perfect swing height would be to achieve an optimum swing time amongst the
three of them. Mark exclaimed that the factors that affect the speed of the swing would be the same
as those (mass, angle, and length) that affect the period of a pendulum. Pan and design an
experiment to investigate the effect of mass and angle on the period of a pendulum; given that
length is constant.

HYPOTHESIS: ………………………………………..…………………………….
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AIM: ………………………………………………………………………………..
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APPARATTUS AND MATERIALS: …………………………………………………..

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METHOD: ………………………………………………………………………....
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Date: ____________ Lab No.: _______ SBA: __________

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VARIABLES:
● Independent/ Manipulated variable …………………………………………………
● Dependent/Responding variable ……………………………………………………
● Controlled variable …………………………………………………………………

EXPECTED RESULTS: …………………………………………………………………………..

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ASSUMPTION/PRECAUTION/SOURCE OF ERROR: ……………………………………….

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 Date: ____________ Lab No.: _______ SBA: __________

MARK SCHEME
SKILL: PLANNING AND DESIGN

Criteria Marks Teacher’s Moderator’s

allotted marks marks

Hypothesis
● Clearly stated 1
● Testable 1

Aim
● Related to the hypothesis 1

Materials and apparatus

● Appropriate materials and apparatus 1

Method
● Suitable 1
● At least one manipulated or responding variable 1

Controlled variable
● Controlled variable stated 1

Expected results
● Reasonable 1
1
● Link with method

Assumptions/precautions/possible sources of error

● Any ONE stated 1

Total 10

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Date: ____________ Lab No.: _______ SBA: __________

TOPIC: Simple Pendulum

AIM: To investigate the relationship between length and the period of a pendulum and to calculate
the value of acceleration due to gravity using a simple pendulum.

APPARATUS/MATERIALS: stopwatch bob string

retort stand ruler protractor

DIAGRAM OF APPARATUS:

DIAGRAM SHOWING SET UP OF EXPERIMENT

THEORY: An ideal simple pendulum consists of a heavy point of mass called the bob, tied to one
end of a perfectly inextensible, flexible, and weightless string. When displaced from an initial angle
and released, the Pendulum will swing back and forth with periodic motion. When a pendulum is
displaced Sideways from its resting equilibrium position, it is subjected to a restoring force due to
gravity that will accelerate it back to its equilibrium position. The time taken for one complete cycle
(back and forth swing), is called a period. The period of a pendulum depends on the length of the
pendulum; also, a slight degree of the amplitude- the width of the pendulum’s swing.

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Date: ____________ Lab No.: _______ SBA: __________

METHOD:
1. Use a ruler to measure the length, l, of the string to be 50 cm long and attach the bob to the
string.
2. with the help of a protractor, displace the pendulum, about 10° from the equilibrium
position and allow the pendulum to swing back and forth in one plane.
3. use a stopwatch to record the total time taken, t₁/s, for the pendulum to make 20
oscillations. Record the data in the table.
4. Decrease the length of the string by 5 cm. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for seven more lengths and
record all results. repeat the entire experiment to obtain values for t2/s.
5. Complete the result table and plot a graph of period squared (T2) against length (l).
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OBSERVATION/RESULTS:
TITLE: ……………………………………………………………………………………………..

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Date: ____________ Lab No.: _______ SBA: __________

CALCULATIONS:
1. Use the graph to find the period of a pendulum whose length is 35 cm.
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2. Calculate the slope of the graph. (Show working on graph)
3. The acceleration due to gravity, g, is related to T2 and l by the equation:

g = 4𝜋2 × 1/ [T2/l]

Use the gradient of the graph to calculate the value of g.

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DISCUSSION:
1. What is the period of a pendulum?
2. Analyze the table to find out if T2 is proportional to l. Outline your findings. What can you
conclude about the relationship between l and T2? Write an equation connecting T2 and l.
3. List one (1) possible source of error and a precaution to be taken during the experiment.
4. Discuss the energy changes as a pendulum swings from side to side.
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CONCLUSION: ……………………………………………………………..…………………
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 Date: ____________ Lab No.: _______ SBA: __________

MARK SCHEME
SKILL: ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Criteria Marks Teacher’s Moderator’s

allotted marks marks

Makes accurate calculations from data

● Gradient of graph (formula, layout, and answer) 3
● Use gradient to calculate the value of g 3
● State period of pendulum of length 35cm 1

Identify relationships and patterns

● Table analysis (relation between T2 and l) 2
● Write an equation connecting T2 and l 1

Background information
● Correct/appropriate definition of period 1

Evaluates data from experiment

● Provides ONE source of error 1
● List ONE precaution taken when measuring length
and period of the pendulum 1

Logical conclusion
● Linked to aim (express relation between period and 1
length)
● Contain value of g 1

Total 15

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