The Pendulum Trial

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The PendulumTrial
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Galileo created a scientific theory while sitting
in church one day. Galileo believed it was very
important to test theories in science.
You are going to test Galileos theory.
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Does the weight on the end of a pendulum effect
its swing?
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Each group of 3 needs

• 1 piece of wood
• 1 piece of string
• 1 packet of washers
• 1 paperclip
• 1 clothespin
• 1 set of worksheets

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Step 1
Attach 1 washer to a paper clip and attach the
paper clip to one end of the string.
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Step 2
Push the other end of the string up through the
hole on the piece of wood and put a clothespin on
top of the wood to hold it in place.
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Step 3
Before we start, we need to figure out how to
count the swings of our pendulums.
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Step 3 continued. . .
The pendulum being released from the table and
returning back to the ledge of the table will
count as 1 swing. Use this to count your swings.
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Step 4

• In your group, raise your pendulum to the edge of
  the table and let it swing.
• On your paper, record the number of swings your
  pendulum makes in 30 seconds with tally marks.
  (Have everyone help count to be accurate!)

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Step 5
Attach two more washers to the paper clip in your
pendulum.
On your paper Do you think adding this mass will
change the pendulums swing? If you do, how is it
going to change the pendulums swing?
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Step 6
Now repeat Step 4 with the extra weight on your
pendulum. Remember to place your board on the
table at the black line. Keep a record of the
swings with tally marks on your paper. Raise the
pendulum to the level of the table and release,
count the swings the same way that you did in
Step 4.
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Test Results
What did you discover?
Does the weight on the end of a pendulum effect
the speed it swings?
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For Discussion
Before you clean up . . . .
What do you think Galileo discovered when he
tried this experiment? What other things could
you test about pendulums?