An experiment to find the variables that affect the rate of a pendulum swing

        Two factors have been chosen. These will be investigated in the experiment. The two factors that will be investigated are: the mass of the pendulum and the length of the pendulum swing.

        I predict that when the length of the string is increased the time of the swing will increase. The reason that this prediction is scientifically correct is largely due to the fact that the longer the string the larger the swing arc so the further the pendulum must swing.

        I also predict that when the mass of the pendulum is increased the time of the swing will decrease. This is because the pull of gravity is stronger on larger objects; hence the swing time is shorter.

        The equipment that will be required will include: stand, boss, clamp, weights, string and a stopwatch.

        In the case of a pendulum kinetic energy and potential energy are interchanged continually. The energy of the weights is all potential energy at the end of the swing and kinetic energy as it passes through the central position. Eventually all the energy is changed to heat as a result of overcoming air resistance.