Question 1a
You are provided with a pendulum bob, a string, a metre rule, retort stand with two clamps, a stop-watch and other necessary materials
- Set-up a simple pendulum of length, H = 120 cm.
- Fix the second clamp on the retort stand to serve as a horizontal stopper, such that the clamp is just in contact with the pendulum string in the equilibrium position as illustrated in the diagram above.
- Adjust and record the position of the stopper such that y = 20 cm and L = 100 cm.
- Set the pendulum in motion in a plane at right angles to the stopper such that at each return the string makes contact with the stopper.
- Measure and record the time t for 20 oscillations.
- Determine the period T.
- Evaluate , , X = ( + )
- Keeping H constant, repeat the procedure for four other values of L = 90 cm,
80 cm, 70 cm and 60 cm.
- Tabulate your readings.
- Plot a graph with T on the vertical axis and X on the horizontal axis.
- Determine the slope, s, of the graph.
- Evaluate g =( )2, where л = 3.14
- State two precautions taken to obtain accurate results.
Observation
Part (a) This was not a popular question among candidates and performance was low. Many candidates did well in the observation but failed to record the value of L in I d.p. Candidates performed poorly in graph and slope calculation.