1.  Weigh the pendulum ball with the triple-beam balance.

2.  Start Capstone and load the template  K:\Physics\Demonstrations\Conservation of Pendulum Energy.cap

3.  Hang the 2.54cm ball pendulum from a pendulum support stand.

4.  Using the Conservation of Pendulum Energy gage, set the height of the timing gate and the height of the ball.  The ball center will hang 10cm from the table top and the timing gate will be centered on the ball.

5.  Position the timing gate so that it is in line with the at-rest ball.

6.  Pull the ball out of the timing gate and click on Record.  Raise the ball to the desired height, being careful to use a perfectly-perpendicular meter stick.  30cm from the table top would be h=20cm.

7.  Release the ball.  As it goes through the timing gate at the bottom of its swing, the ball velocity is measured (the diameter of the ball / time light beam is blocked).  Data taking will stop automatically after the first swing through the gate.

Calculate the Potential Energy = mgh  at the release point.

Calculate the Kinetic Energy = 1/2mv²  at the bottom of the swing

Typically, these will be within 5%.  The major error is aligning the ball and timing gate so that the ball diameter is really the distance that the gate light beam is blocked.