Academy Curricular Exchange
Columbia Education Center
Science

TITLE:  THE HUMAN PENDULUM

AUTHOR:  Michael T. Schultz, Cambridge High School, Cambridge, ID

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:  7-12

OVERVIEW:  Most students are not interested in the pendulum concept
unless they actively participate in studying the factors involved
affecting its motion.

PURPOSE:  The purpose of this lab activity is to have students actively
participate in studying how length, amplitude, and mass affect the
period of a pendulum.  This activity is intended to be an exploratory
activity.

OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:
  1.  Understand what period means.
  2.  Describe how length affects period.
  3.  Describe how mass affects period.
  4.  Describe how amplitude affects period.
  5.  Identify the variables that affect period.
  6.  Give a mathematical proportion that shows the relationships
      that exist between the variables affecting the period.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:  Stopwatch, 16 inch 2X4, students of different
mass, rope, ladder.

ACTIVITIES:
  1.  Give students a rope, a 16 inch 2X4 for a seat, stop watch, and a ladder.
  2.  Tell students you want them to study the variables affecting how a
pendulum works.

Notes:  Different groups of students doing the same activity would
work better.  This activity works well because students are actively
involved in being part of the lab.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
  1.  Have the different groups of students share their results on the board.
  2.  Using the results mentioned in step 1 have students identify the
proportions that exist between the variables.
  3.  Use this activity to give students a conceptual understanding of
the factors affecting the motion of a pendulum.

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