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GCSE Questions - Waves

Q12. The clock shown below uses a pendulum to keep time.

(a) The pendulum has a frequency of 0.80 Hz.

Calculate the periodic time of the pendulum.

[2 marks]

(b) Ragnar investigated the factors affecting the oscillation of a pendulum. He set up a pendulum as shown in the diagram.

Ragnar investigated how many complete oscillations the pendulum made for different lengths of the pendulum and different masses of the pendulum bob. His results are shown in the table.

Length of the pendulum/mm
Mass of the pendulum bob/g
Number of complete oscillations made by the pendulum in 20 s
200
100
22
200
200
22
400
100
15
400
200
15
600
50
13
600
100
13

 

(i) State two conclusions that Ragnar should make from the results shown in his table.

[2 marks]

(ii) He wants to be more certain that his conclusions are correct.

Suggest two ways in which the investigation could be improved.

[2 marks]

(Total 6 marks)