Name______Per.______

The Effect of ______on the Period of a Pendulum

Note: check off the boxes under each section as you complete them. See the Guide to Writing Lab Reports in the Investigations Packet if you need more explanation of each section.

Question:

Question is general, relates to the purpose of the lab, and is stated as a question.

Hypothesis:

Statement includes “if,then” type of statement which includes the manipulated and responding variables.

Reason phrase (i.e. “because…”) is included and is logical.

Materials:

All materials used are listed. When appropriate, give quantities of materials used.

Procedures: (In a numbered list format)

Values for all controlled variables are given.

Number of trials done listed, “Record Data”…

Procedure is detailed enough to be duplicated by someone who has not yet taken this class.

Manipulated Variable:
Only one, and it’s unambiguous
Responding Variable:
Only one, and it’s unambiguous
Controlled Variables (at least 3):
Three listed, and they are meaningful and unambiguous / Diagram:
Clearly drawn with labels showing what materials are used.
Specific values are given for controlled variables (such as length and angle)

Data Table: Effect of ______on the Period of a Pendulum

Manipulated variable (with units) goes here

Trial / Time for one swing (sec) / Best Value for 5 trials (sec) / Range or uncertainty (sec) / Notes
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5

Graph:

Includes title

Manipulated variable on x, responding variable on y.

Appropriately scaled graph (uses up as much space as possible, scale for each axis is consistent)

Labels on each axis

Units on each axis

Only best value plotted

Best-fit line or curve through the data

Analysis:

A. Description of the data:

Pattern (or lack of pattern) is clearly explained. Give more than just “increases or decreases.” Describe nature of pattern (i.e. a linear or non-linear/exponential)

Data is used to describe the pattern.

B. Description of data reliability:

Reliability is described using data (i.e. range or uncertainty in trials for each mass)

Judgment on whether data is reliable or not and reasons why you think so.

Discussion of outliers (if any), and reasons why they were kept or discarded.

C. Error Analysis:

Several sources of potential error are identified and discussed.

Discussion of significance of the errors (i.e. how much they might have affected the data).

Conclusion:

Restatement of hypothesis and whether or not it is correct.

Answer to the question—what is the effect of mass on the period of a pendulum?

Support your conclusion (answer to the question) with data.

Discussion of the big ideas for the lab, including why the results came out the way they did (i.e. what is the science behind the results?) Discussion goes beyond repetition of the hypothesis and reason statement.