Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

The pendulum-peg problem (part II)

You will be provided a simple pendulum and can measure its length L. Set up the experiment so that the rod is at the height h = L/4. Start the ball at the distance D above the bottom of the swing which you predicted in part I.

Does your predicted value succeed?

Experiment to find the critical value of D -- the smallest possible height which still allows the ball to complete its circle around the peg. What is this critical value? How close is it to your predicted value of D? Estimate the uncertainty in this critical value; does it agree with your prediction, to within the uncertainty?

Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.