# A student wants to measure the period of a pendulum accurately. Explain why the student should time several complete oscillations rather than just one, and state how the period is then determined from this measurement.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Physics (0625) — 1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Timing several oscillations reduces the percentage uncertainty (in the measurement)
2. A single oscillation is too short a time interval (making any timing error a large fraction of the measurement)
3. The total time measured is divided by the number of oscillations
4. The result gives a more reliable / precise value for the period

## Key terms

- [period](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/period)
- [oscillation](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/oscillation)
- [pendulum](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/pendulum)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Cambridge International IGCSE Physics (0625)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-wants-to-measure-the-a7205929) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.