A student measures g, the acceleration due to gravity near the Earth's surface, by performing an experiment using a simple pendulum. She intends to use the formula T = 2p.
Experiment 1
The pendulum consists of a small "bob," of mass m = 0.50 kg, attached to the end of a very light string of length L = 2.0 m. The string is initially hanging straight down. The student then displaces the pendulum bob horizontally by about 4 cm, and releases it from rest. She observes how many times the pendulum oscillates back and forth in one minute.
Experiment 2
Same as experiment 1, except the student displaces the pendulum bob by 8 cm instead of 4 cm.
Experiment 3
Same as experiment 1, except the student uses a bob of mass 0.25 kg instead of 0.50 kg.
In experiment 1, the pendulum completed 20 oscillations in one minute.

1. | In experiment 1, what is the frequency of the pendulum, in hertz (cycles per second)?

A. | 0.05

B. | 0.33

C. | 3.0

D. | 20

2. | In experiment 2, about how many oscillations will the pendulum complete in one minute?

A. | 10

B. | 14

C. | 20

D. | 28

3. | In experiment 3, the number of oscillations completed by the pendulum in one minute is:

A. | Less than 20

B. | About 20

C. | More than 20

D. | We cannot determine the answer from the information provided.

4. | Which of the following graphs best shows the period of a pendulum as a function of its length?

A. | A

B. | B

C. | C

D. | D

5. | The pendulum bob detaches from the string right when it reaches the highest point of its arc (the endpoint of the swing). Which of the following diagrams best represents the subsequent trajectory of the pendulum bob?

A. | A

B. | B

C. | C

D. | D

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