Optional Practical: The conical pendulum
The Conical pendulum
Introduction
A conical pendulum is a pendulum that is spun round in a circle instead of swung backwards and forwards. In this experiment a mass is attached to a string and made to spin in a circle of fixed radius, the time period of the motion is related to the length of the string. By varying the length and measuring Time period the acceleration of gravity can be found.
Research question
How does the time period of a conical pendulum depend upon the length of the string?
Independent variable: Length of pendulum
Dependent variable: Time period
Controlled variables: Radius, mass and properties of the string.
Method
Draw a clear circle of about 10cm diameter on a piece of paper. Holding the string above the centre of the circle swing the mass so it travels around the circumference. This isn’t that easy so it might be worth practising with different lengths before you start the measurements. You will notice that the time period is longer when the string is longer.
Theory
Above is a free body diagram for the mass. If the forces are resolved vertically and horizontally:
Vertically the forces are balanced so mg=Fcosθ
Where F is the tension
Horizontally there is centripetal acceleration so mω2r=Fsinθ
Where
m = mass
ω = Angular velocity
r = radius
Dividing gives
mg/mω2r =Fcosθ/Fsinθ =1/ tanθ
But
tanθ = r/h so ω2r/g= r/h
from the definition
ω = 2π/T so 4π2/gT2 = 1/h
Where T = time period
Squaring gives
h2 = g2T4/16π4
From Pythagoras
L2 = h2 + r2 so h2=L2 - r2
Finally
L2=g2T4/16π4 + r2
By changing L and measuring T keeping r constant use a graphical method to find g