Lab Report M1

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NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Experiment No. M1: Work and Energy

Date: 12 October 2018

Name: Naomi Chan En Hui

Lab Group: AL24

Date Submitted: 12 October 2018

Tutor: Sailauov Tolebi

Grade:
1. Introduction
This experiment aims to demonstrate the conservation of mechanical energy in the
swinging of a pendulum. In physics, the law of conservation of energy states that
the total energy of an isolated system remains constant, conserved over time.

2. Theory
A compound pendulum is released from rest at a certain angle from its
equilibrium position and allowed to oscillate about a knife-edged pivot under the
influence of gravity. As the position and the velocity of the pendulum change with
time, the gravitational potential energy it gains is converted to kinetic energy and
vice versa. The potential energy is maximum at the highest point of the pendulum
swing, while the kinetic energy is maximum at the lowest point.

If the sum of the potential energy and the kinetic energy is really conserved then,
for any initial angle of release of the pendulum, one may expect the potential
energy gained at the highest point of the pendulum swing to be all converted to
the kinetic energy at the lowest point of the swing, that is, ‘potential energy gained
at the highest point’ = ‘kinetic energy at the lowest point’

3. Result
a.
Exercise 1. The angular velocity of the pendulum at the lowest point of the swing,
as denoted by ω, can be easily calculated from the values of Δ and the time t in
Table 1 by using the formula

Δ
ω= t

Exercise 2. Comparing Eqs. (2) and (4), we may express I in terms of M and 𝐿𝑔
as:

I= 𝑀𝐿𝑔 2

Exercise 3. From Newton’s law of motion alone (without assuming the principle
of conservation of energy), that is by solving the ordinary differential equation
𝑚𝑥̈ = −𝑘𝑥 , it can be shown that the period 𝑇𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 of the vibration of the mass
in the linear spring-mass system is given by

𝑚
𝑇𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 2𝜋√
𝑘

Exercise 4. From Eq. (8), deduce a formula for the period T of ‘small’ oscillation
of the pendulum by making an analogous comparison between the two systems in
Figures 2 and 3. The formula for T should be in terms of 𝐿𝑔 , M, g and I.
𝐿𝑔
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑔

Exercise 5. From Eq. (5) and your answer in Exercise 4, the distance 𝐿𝑔 can be
expressed in terms of T and g as

𝑇 2
𝐿𝑔 = ( ) 𝑔
2𝜋

Exercise 6.
‘potential energy gained at the highest point’ = Mg 𝐿𝑔 (1-cosθ)

b.
For a simple pendulum consisting of a mass M attached to a very thin light string
of length L, in the absence of air resistance, derive the equation of motion for the
simple pendulum in terms of the angular displacement θ relative to its equilibrium
position? For “small” oscillation, namely θ is less than 5˚, what is the period T of
oscillation? Compare with the derived result in Exercise 4 above.

Driving force of pendulum,

𝐹 = −𝑀𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛θ

Newton’s second law of motion,

𝐹 = 𝑀𝑎

Therefore,

−𝑀𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛θ = Ma

−𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛θ=a

When the pendulum is displaced by an angle θ, its displacement 𝑠 will be,

𝑠 = 𝐿θ

Differentiating the equation twice with respect to time, 𝑡,

𝑑2𝜃
a= L
𝑑𝑡 2

By substitution and rearrangement,

𝑑2𝜃
L 2 = −𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛θ
𝑑𝑡

Therefore,
𝑑2𝜃 𝑔
2
= − 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ
𝑑𝑡 𝐿

Period 𝑇 of oscillation,

𝐿
𝑇 = 2𝜋 √
𝑔

The equation of period 𝑇 of oscillation for the simple pendulum differs from the
equation of period 𝑇 of oscillation in Exercise 4. The 𝐿 used in the equation for
the simple pendulum is length of the very thin light string attached to the mass.
However, the 𝐿𝑔 used in the equation in Exercise 4 is the distance of the centre of
gravity of the pendulum from the pivot line.

c.
For a simple pendulum consisting of a mass M attached to a very thin light string
of length L, use the conclusion of the experiment to derive a formula which may
be used for calculating the angular velocity at the lowest point of pendulum swing.

1
𝐾𝐸 = 𝐼𝜔2
2

𝐼 = 𝑀𝐿𝑔 2

𝑃𝐸 = 𝑀𝑔𝐿𝑔 1 − cosθ)
𝐾𝐸 = 𝑃𝐸
By substitution,
1
𝑀𝐿𝑔 2 𝜔2 = 𝑀𝑔𝐿𝑔 (1 − cosθ)
2
Rearranging,
2𝑔(1 − cosθ)
𝜔=√
𝐿𝑔
4. Discussion
(a) What is conserved and non-conserved force? Give an example of
conserved and non-conserved force.

A conserved force is a force whose work done is independent of the path taken
and depends only the initial and final position. An example is gravitational
force. A non-conserved force is a force whose work done is dependent of the
path taken. Frictional force is a non-conserved force.

(b) What is the gradient of the graph of K.E. against P.E.? What can you
conclude from this?
0.128−0.03
Gradient of graph = 0.23−0.04 = 0.516 (3 𝑠. 𝑓)
K.E and P.E are linearly proportional to each other hence, the gradient of the
graph of K.E against P.E should be 1 in theory. However, the results gathered
do not show that.
1−0.516
Percentage discrepancy = 1 × 100% = 48.4%
Due to the possible sources of error during the experiment, there is a
discrepancy of 48.4% between the gradients of the theoretical and
experimental graph.

(c) Determine the center of mass of the compound pendulum through


experiment and determine the distance, 𝑳𝒈 , between the center of mass of
the compound pendulum and the pivot. Compare with the value
evaluated according to Eq. (9), is it reasonable to simplify the compound
pendulum as a simple pendulum?

Experimentally, 𝐿𝑔 = 0.237𝑚
Theoretically, 𝐿𝑔 = 0.328𝑚 (3 𝑠. 𝑓)
Find the percentage discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical
values of 𝐿𝑔 :
0.237−0.328
Percentage discrepancy = | 0.237 | × 100% = 38.4% (3 𝑠. 𝑓)
Since the percentage discrepancy is more than 10%, it is not reasonable to
simplify the compound pendulum as a simple pendulum.

(d) What are the possible sources of error for the experiment? Give estimates
for the percentage errors involved.

 When recording the time taken for 10 oscillations, the reaction time
when using the stopwatch may differ every time.
0.2
Percentage error = 11.50 × 100% = 1.74%
 The sharp-edged pivot block may shift slightly. This will lead to an
inaccurate reading of time T.
Percentage error is estimated to be less than 5%.
 The pendulum may not be always oscillating in a vertical plane. This
will give rise to an inaccurate reading of time T.
Percentage error is estimated to be less than 5%.
 We have assumed that 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ ≈ θ during calculations. This would have
affected the answers derived.
Percentage error is estimated to be less than 5%.

5. Conclusion
In conclusion, the objectives stated in the Laboratory Manual for Experiment
M1 Work and Energy have been achieved. The experimental results have
generally supported our knowledge of the conservation of kinetic energy though
the accuracy of the results may have been compromised by the sources of error
stated above. This experiment has been beneficial in terms of the skills and
knowledge gained through the process of executing the experiment and writing a
report.

6. References

 Laboratory Manual for Experiment M1 Work and Energy, Nanyang


Technological University first year common engineering course
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_of_energy
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendulum

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