Propeller-Powered Pendulum
Recommended for grades 9–14.
Introduction
A pendulum is a weighted object suspended from a pivot point. As a pendulum moves, it swings out in a circular arc moving back and forth in a periodic motion. A pendulum usually operates under the influence of gravity; but in this Project, you will use a motorized propeller to power the pendulum's motion. The spinning blades of a propeller cause a pressure differential on the front and back surfaces resulting in a force that moves the object through the air called thrust. Propeller blades are attached to their hubs at an angle or pitch, much like the threads on a screw. Propeller blades are also twisted. When the propeller is spinning, each section of the blade travels at a different velocity, but the twist in the blade is meant to provide uniform lift along the length of the blade making for a more efficient propeller.
Objectives
Build a physical pendulum driven by a DC motor, a propeller, and a digital controller. You should attach the motor and propeller to the end of a long bar. The Vernier Rotary Motion Sensor will be used for mounting the bar at its pivot point and for measuring the angle of the bar's swing. You will use the Vernier Digital Control Unit (DCU) to power the motorized propeller and initiate the swing of the bar. The program should pulse the power on and off as needed to keep the bar swinging. For safety reasons, you should limit the range of your bar's swing to approximately ±20°. The bar angle should be displayed on the front panel, but the bar's motion should be controlled totally by the program.
Sensors and Equipment
This project requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You will also need a SensorDAQ interface and LabVIEW software for data acquisition.
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
The preview does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book for classroom use.
Standards Correlations
No standards correlations for this experiment.
Experiment 11 from Engineering Projects with NI LabVIEW and Vernier Lab Book
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.