Fundaments for an Innovative Proposal of the Simple Pendulum Lab Using the Possibilities of the Computer Aided Physics Lab System HPCI-1

Abstract

Using one experiment of the Computer Aided Physics Laboratory System HPCI-1 experimental values of the gravitational acceleration for three real pendulums with bobs of different masses in small oscillations were obtained. Elapsed times for the reduction of oscillation amplitudes in 30 and oscillation amplitude after 30 periods, both starting from initial amplitude of 50 were also measured. The results were obtained in less than 2 hours and they are the fundament of an innovative proposal for the lab practice dedicated to this physical system. Through some suggesting questions that promote the analysis of results the university students can to deep in the main characteristics of this system and overload the analysis level respect the previous educational level, they will understand which of the three pendulums differs more from the harmonic model and how this is expressed in the results for the gravitational acceleration.