Week 2: Pendulums

Pendulums: Week 2

Major Concepts/Big Ideas

  • In a simple pendulum (with no friction), mechanical energy is conserved
  • Total mechanical energy = kinetic energy & gravitational potential energy
  • As the pendulum swings, there is a constant exchange between kinetic energy & gravitational potential energy
  • Independent variable: angle 
  • Dependent variable: weight, length, drop technique, pendulum design, time
  • The ONLY variable that really matters = length 
  • Shorter pendulum, more swings
  • Longer pendulum, less swings
Lab Results: 

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