Pendulum Lab
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Topics
- Periodic Motion
- Simple Harmonic Oscillator
- Conservation of Energy
- Period
- Pendulum
Description
Play with one or two pendulums and discover how the period of a simple pendulum depends on the length of the string, the mass of the pendulum bob, the strength of gravity, and the amplitude of the swing. Observe the energy in the system in real-time, and vary the amount of friction. Measure the period using the stopwatch or period timer. Use the pendulum to find the value of g on Planet X. Notice the anharmonic behavior at large amplitude.
Sample Learning Goals
- Design experiments to determine which variables affect the period of a pendulum
- Quantitatively describe how the period of a pendulum depends on these variables
- Explain the small-angle approximation, and define what constitutes a “small” angle
- Determine the gravitational acceleration of Planet X
- Explain the conservation of mechanical energy, using kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy
- Describe the Energy Graph from the position and speed of the pendulum
Version 2.03
Keywords
Teacher Tips
Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Teacher-Submitted Activities
Title | Authors | Level | Type | Subject | ||
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Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) | Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
MC | Physics | ||
Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) | Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
Lab HW Demo |
Physics | ||
Pendulum Basics Inquiry | Trish Loeblein | MS | Lab | Physics | ||
Pendulum Lab 2: Find g (Inquiry Based) | Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
HW | Mathematics Physics |
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Pendulum Lab 1: intro to pendulums (Inquiry Based) | Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
Lab HW |
Physics Mathematics |
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Swinging Physics Using Pendulum Phet | John Lewis and Michi Ishimoto | UG-Intro HS |
Discuss Lab |
Physics | ||
Pendulum investigation for Middle School | Jefferson County Middle School Workshop | MS | Lab | Mathematics Physics |
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Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS | Trish Loeblein | HS | Other | Chemistry Earth Science Physics Biology |
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How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? | Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Chemistry Physics Biology Earth Science |
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Pendulum Lab Learning Goals by design team (Inquiry Based) | Trish Loeblein, Mike Dubson | Other | Other | Mathematics Physics |
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Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics | Jaya Ramchandani | HS | Other | Physics | ||
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | MS HS |
Other | Chemistry Biology Physics |
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PhET Simulations Aligned for AP Physics C | Roberta Tanner | HS | Other | Physics | ||
KE and PE with the pendulum, Student | Don Loving | MS UG-Intro HS |
Guided Lab |
Physics | ||
Pendulum variables | Jefferson County Middle School Workshop | MS | Lab | Physics | ||
Kinematics | Wang Yunhe | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
Pendulum Lab COV Investigations | Alicia Ferrill | K-5 MS |
CQs Lab Demo HW |
Other | ||
Pendulum Lab | Orkida Dedushi | MS | Lab | Physics | ||
Simple Pendulum | Jay Gregorio | MS UG-Intro HS |
CQs Lab HW |
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Pendulum Energy | Denise Wetli | UG-Intro | Lab | |||
Pendulum Lab | gayle bari | HS | Lab | |||
8th Grade Science teacher | Richard Ballard | MS | Lab | Physics | ||
Determination of Gravitational Acceleration | Roberto Marrero | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
The pendulum lab - Period investigation | Geoff Phillips | HS | Lab | |||
Moviment d'un pèndol | Jordi Plana | MS | HW Demo |
Physics | ||
practicum laboratory test "pendulum"/ practicum toets "slingeren" | Peter Selen | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
Waves and sound(in dutch golven en trillingen) | Corné de Boer | HS | Demo | |||
La mesure du temps | Moreau Gwenael | MS | Lab | Physics | ||
Getaran | Poniyem Joni | MS | Lab | Physics | ||
AYUNAN SEDERHANA | Daimah Binti Abdul Rokhim | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
laboratorijas darbs | Natalija Shilde | Other HS |
Guided MC Other Lab Demo Discuss HW |
Physics Mathematics |
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Cálculo da aceleração da gravidade (g) utilizando o pêndulo simples | Rodrigo Nogueira | HS Grad |
Guided Demo Lab HW Discuss |
Earth Science Physics |
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Laboratorio del péndulo simple | Orlando E González Pérez | Grad | HW | |||
Laboratorio de Péndulo Simple | Leonardo Correa | Grad MS |
Demo HW Lab |
Mathematics Physics |
Windows | Macintosh | Linux |
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Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8.1/10 Macromedia Flash 9 or later
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OS X 10.9.5 or later Macromedia Flash 9 or later
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Macromedia Flash 9 or later
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Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
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