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Johnahh
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Homework Statement
The aim of the experiment is to find out if the period of oscillation is proportional to the square root of the length of the pendulum.
We used 5 different lengths and got the average time for 1 oscillation for each length
These are the results:
Length=48cm, Time=1.33s
Length=43.5cm, Time=1.26s
Length=35cm, Time=1.15s
Length=25cm, Time=0.95
Length=15cm, Time=0.73
With this data I have drawn a graph with a straight line as we can tell period is proportional to length
Question:
Calculate the percentage of error and identify main sources of error.
Homework Equations
T= 2∏√L/g
T= period
L= length
g= acceleration due to gravity
I am told 2∏/gradient should give me a result near to 9.81ms but my results are coming out with a massive error percentage.
my graph is drawn with x=√L and y=T
The Attempt at a Solution
the gradient for my graph is 1.25s-0.25s / 6.5-1.6. which is 1 / 4.9 = 0.20
2∏ / 0.20 = 31.41
9.81-31.41 / 9.81 x 100 = 220% error?
surely this cannot be correct as the error percentage should be at maximum around 3%.
I must be doing a calculation wrong but i cannot figure out what, any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
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