Sources of Error in Conservation of Energy Lab

[jonsmith1994]

Homework Statement

http://www.austincc.edu/mmcgraw/Labs_1401/8c-Con of Energy-Pendulum-RGC-1-15-09.pdf

state some errors that occurred in the lab

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I think it has something to do with the photogate but I am not sure.

 

[Delphi51]

No measurement is perfectly accurate. For example, when measuring with a ruler, the measurement is rounded off to the nearest division on the ruler scale, often 1 mm. So you have a measurement inaccuracy of plus or minus 0.5 mm. When using the ruler, this inaccuracy may well apply to both ends of the ruler, doubling the error. There may well be other errors besides this rounding error such as how well the measuring device was made, how well it has been used by the person and strange things like air flow in the room, etc. Several things could slightly throw off the location of the center of mass on that weight.