Physics Lab Report 1 2011

Physics Lab
Report 1

Measurement of
acceleration due
to gravity (g) by
using a simple
pendulum

Prepared by F5A
Kelvin Cheong (6)
William Lei (20)
Jeff Leong (21)
Anthony Lo (22)

Date of report: 28th February, 2011

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 Physics Lab Report 1 2011

Content
1. Objective...............................................................................................................
...P.2
2. Equipment........................................................................................................ ...
....P2
3. Theory............................................................................................................. ......
P2-3
4. Test Setup and
Procedure.................................................................................P3
5. Test
Data........................................................................................................ ......P4-6
6. Analysis of test
data........................................................................................P7-8
7. Conclusion....................................................................................................... ....
....P9
8. Discussion....................................................................................................... .P
9-10
- Source of errors………………………………………………………………...……..P9
- Improvement………………………………………………………………….…..P9-10
9. Reference........................................................................................................ .....
.P11
10. Appendix………………………………………………………………………….P1
2-15

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 Physics Lab Report 1 2011

Objective
The aim of this experiment is to determine the acceleration due to gravity (g) using the
simple pendulum. By measuring the time of oscillations and calculating the period, we can
then gather the data. Follow analyzing the data; we can work out the ‘g’ value using a
graphical method.
Date of experiment: 17th February, 2011

Equipment
The apparatus for this experiment consists of a support stand with a string clamp, a small
metal sphere connecting the string. A pair of scissors, a meter rule, a vernier caliper, a
protractor and a stopwatch. The apparatus is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: The apparatus used in the experiment

Theory
The principle of the pendulum was discovered by Galileo, an Italian physicist and
astronomer, who established that the period for the back-and-forth oscillation of a
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 Physics Lab Report 1 2011
pendulum of a given length, remains the same, even when the size of its arc or amplitude
varies.
A simple pendulum can be approximated by a small metal sphere which has a small radius
and a large mass when compared relatively to the length and mass of the light string from
which it is suspended. If the pendulum is displaced slightly from equilibrium the mass will
perform simple harmonic oscillation.

Since the simple pendulum exhibits simple harmonic motion over small displacement (see
Figure 2), a relationship can be formed between the acceleration due to gravity and its
period. Without changing the length of the
string and measuring the period of motion, the
value of the acceleration due to gravity can be
found.

Figure 2: A pendulum exhibits simple harmonic motion

The calculation can be performed by the

following equation:
l 4 π 2l
T =2 π
√ g
that is, T2
g=

Note that the angular displacement θ of the pendulum from its rest position (vertical)
should be limited to less than 5° for precise value of ‘g’ and in this equation.

(g is the acceleration due to gravity; l is the length of the sting and

T is the period of the simple harmonic motion in seconds per cycle)

Test Setup and Procedure

In the experiment, we set up the apparatus as follows. (see Figure 3)
1. Put the stand near the edge of the table.
2. Fix the clamp on the stand.
3. Measure and record the length of the string, hook connected to
the metal sphere, (with the help of the meter rule) and the
diameter of the metal sphere by using the vernier caliper.
4. Rope the string on the two split corks; tighten the clamp so that
the string and the split corks are fixed in position. Figure
3: The setup of the experiment

5. Fix the pendulum in an equilibrium position (vertical hanging

from the ground)

We carried out the experiment by delivering the work among

members; each person is responsible for one of the following in turns:
a) Hold the stopwatch, and measure the time for oscillations
b) Displace the pendulum from its equilibrium position and
measure the angle.
c) Hold and release the metal sphere to allow time measurement.

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 Physics Lab Report 1 2011
d) Record the data and fill the values in the appropriate column of the data table.

The steps towards getting data are as follows.

1. Set the pendulum till 15º by moving it to the left, (with the help of the protractor,
as precisely as possible)
2. As soon as the metal sphere is released, start the stopwatch and record the time
for 3 oscillations
3. Repeat steps 2 and 3 TWO more times with the same length of pendulum so
that THREE trials are obtained
4. Run the entire experiment again with adjusted (decreased) length of the string
(either increase the turns on the split corks or cutting off the string) for another
THREE more times, so that each trial is done FOUR times totally and mean
average is worked out to get one data point.
5. Record 6 data points with 3 trials each per person.

The data we have gathered is shown on the next page.

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 Physics Lab Report 1 2011

Test Data
The following tables slow the data obtained by each lab assistant (member). Note that
the assistants are Jeff, Kelvin, William and Anthony respectively.

DATA TABLE 1
Angleθ: 15° No. of oscillation per measuring time: 3
Trial Number Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Items Angleθ: 15° Time
No. of foroscillation
Period Time for time: 3Period
per measuring Time for Period ‘T’
Trial Number oscillations
Trial 1 ‘T’ (s) oscillations
Trial 2 ‘T’ (s) oscillationsTrial 3(s)
Items ‘t’ (s) for
Time Period ‘t’ (s) for
Time Period ‘t’ (s) for
Time Period ‘T’
Lab assistant 1 6.49
oscillations 2.16
‘T’ (s) 6.32
oscillations 2.11
‘T’ (s) 6.38
oscillations 2.13
(s)
Lab assistant 2 6.28
‘t’ (s) 2.09 6.32
‘t’ (s) 2.11 6.45
‘t’ (s) 2.15
Lab assistant 1 3 6.42
6.03 2.14
2.01 6.38
6.40 2.13 6.57
6.36 2.19
2.12
Lab assistant 2 4 6.39
6.06 2.13
2.02 6.58
6.05 2.19
2.02 6.57
6.02 2.19
2.01
Sub assistant
Lab Average 3 6.40
5.94 2.13
1.98 6.40
6.16 2.14
2.05 6.50
6.23 2.17
2.08
obtained
Lab by each
assistant 4 6.15 2.05 6.09 2.03 6.13 2.04
assistant
Sub Average 6.05 2.02 6.20 2.06 6.20 2.06
Mean Average
obtained of
by each ‘t’ - 6.43
‘t’ and ‘T’
assistant ‘T’ - 2.15
Length
Mean of string
Average of 119.20
‘t’ - 6.15 119.20 119.20
‘l’
‘t’ (cm)
and ‘T’ ‘T’ - 2.05
Radius
Length of string
metal 1.13
106.40 1.13
106.40 1.13
106.40
sphere
‘l’ (cm) r (cm)
Length
Radius of hook
metal h 1.00
1.13 1.00
1.13 1.00
1.13
(cm)
sphere r (cm)
Length of hook h 121.33
1.00 121.33
1.00 121.33
1.00
pendulum ‘L’
(cm)
[l+r+h] of
Length (cm) 108.53 108.53 108.53
pendulum ‘L’
[l+r+h] (cm)
DATA TABLE 2

DATA TABLE 3

Angleθ: 15° No. of oscillation per measuring time: 3

Trial Number Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Items Time for Period Time for Period Time for Period ‘T’
oscillations ‘T’ (s) oscillations ‘T’ (s) oscillations (s)
‘t’ (s) ‘t’ (s) ‘t’ (s)
Lab assistant 1 5.63 1.88 5.53 1.84 5.69 1.90
Lab assistant 2 5.61 1.87 5.79 1.93 5.73 1.91
Lab assistant 3 5.80 1.93 5.57 1.86 5.92 1.97
Lab assistant 4 5.70 1.90 5.49 1.83 5.57 1.86
Sub Average 5.70 1.90 5.60 1.87 5.73 1.91
obtained by each
assistant
Mean Average of ‘t’ - 5.68
‘t’ and ‘T’ ‘T’ - 1.89
Length of string 93.00 93.00 93.00
‘l’ (cm)
Radius of metal 1.13 1.13 1.13
sphere r (cm)
Length of hook h 1.00 1.00 1.00
(cm)
Length of 95.13 95.13 95.13
pendulum ‘L’
[l+r+h] (cm)
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DATA TABLE 4
Angleθ: 15° No. of oscillation per measuring time: 3
Trial Number Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Items Time for Period Time for Period Time for Period ‘T’
oscillations ‘T’ (s) oscillations ‘T’ (s) oscillations (s)
‘t’ (s) ‘t’ (s) ‘t’ (s)
Lab assistant 1 5.59 1.86 5.17 1.72 5.40 1.80
Lab assistant 2 5.45 1.82 5.33 1.78 5.40 1.80
Lab assistant 3 5.62 1.87 5.42 1.81 5.60 1.87
Lab assistant 4 5.49 1.83 5.61 1.87 5.47 1.82
Sub Average 5.56 1.85 5.38 1.80 5.47 1.82
obtained by each
assistant
Mean Average of ‘t’ - 5.47
‘t’ and ‘T’' ‘T’ - 1.82
Length of string 86.50 86.50 86.50
‘l’ (cm)
Radius of metal 1.13 1.13 1.13
sphere r (cm)
Length of hook h 1.00 1.00 1.00
(cm)
Length of 88.63 88.63 88.63
pendulum ‘L’
[l+r+h] (cm)

DATA TABLE 5
Angleθ: 15° No. of oscillation per measuring time: 3
Trial Number Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Items Time for Period Time for Period Time for Period ‘T’
oscillations ‘T’ (s) oscillations ‘T’ (s) oscillations (s)
‘t’ (s) ‘t’ (s) ‘t’ (s)
Lab assistant 1 5.10 1.70 5.40 1.80 5.03 1.68
Lab assistant 2 4.89 1.63 5.15 1.72 5.17 1.72
Lab assistant 3 4.97 1.66 4.97 1.66 5.17 1.72
Lab assistant 4 5.49 1.83 5.32 1.77 5.19 1.73
Sub Average 5.11 1.71 5.21 1.74 5.14 1.71
obtained by each
assistant
Mean Average of ‘t’ - 5.15
‘t’ and ‘T’ ‘T’ - 1.72
Length of string 77.00 77.00 77.00
‘l’ (cm)
Radius of metal 1.13 1.13 1.13
sphere r (cm)
Length of hook h 1.00 1.00 1.00
(cm)
Length of 79.13 79.13 79.13
pendulum ‘L’
[l+r+h] (cm)
DATA TABLE 6

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Angleθ: 15° No. of oscillation per measuring time: 3

Trial Number Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Items Time for Period Time for Period Time for Period ‘T’
oscillations ‘T’ (s) oscillations ‘T’ (s) oscillations (s)
‘t’ (s) ‘t’ (s) ‘t’ (s)
Lab assistant 1 4.69 1.56 5.03 1.68 4.95 1.65
Lab assistant 2 4.65 1.55 4.77 1.59 4.93 1.64
Lab assistant 3 5.02 1.68 4.71 1.57 4.89 1.63
Lab assistant 4 4.85 1.62 4.69 1.56 4.73 1.58
Sub Average 4.80 1.60 4.80 1.60 4.89 1.63
obtained by each
assistant
Mean Average of ‘t’ - 4.83
‘t’ and ‘T’ ‘T’ - 1.61
Length of string 67.20 67.20 67.20
‘l’ (cm)
Radius of metal 1.13 1.13 1.13
sphere r (cm)
Length of hook h 1.00 1.00 1.00
(cm)
Length of 69.33 69.33 69.33
pendulum ‘L’
[l+r+h] (cm)

Analysis of Test Data

From the experimental data we have obtained in the tables above, we now are able to
calculate T2, which is used to plot a graph for calculating ‘g’. The table below slows our
records.

No. of sets of Lengths 'L' of Time for Period 'T' (s) T2/ S2
data pendulum (m) oscillations 't' (s)
1 0.6933  4.8300  1.6100 2.5921
2 0.7913  5.1500  1.7200  2.9584
3 0.8863  5.4700  1.8200  3.3124
4 0.9513  5.6800  1.8900  3.5721
5 1.0853  6.1500  2.0500  4.2025
6 1.2133 6.4300 2.1500 4.6225

Simple pendulum ‘Length’ and ‘Period’ Relationship

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Figure 4: The graph of a simple pendulum

Plot L against T2, as shown in Figure 4 above.

We took several points on the graph and calculated the mean average of the slope, and is
found to be 0.2611.

Since,
l
T =2 π
√ g then
g=4 π 2 ×
l
T2

2
∴ g =4 π x gradient (slope) of the line
2
= 4 π x 0.2611
= 10.3078
¿ 10.31 (ms-2)
The experimental value for g is 10.31 ms-2

We can also deduce from the graph that, the period increases as the length of the string
increases. In other words, the pendulum with a longer string takes longer time to oscillate
than that with a shorter string.

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Conclusion
Based on the data that we have obtained, we have plotted a graph to solve for the value of
‘g’ provided by the theory. We have recorded 6 data points with three trials each per
person, overall, getting 72 entries. In the progress of the experiment, we realized that we
have made quite a number of mistakes/errors. After analyzing and calculating, the
experimental value is found to be 10.31ms-2. The result is close to what we expected,
although it was not precise. (should be 9.81 ms -2 theologically). All in all, we have tried our
best to carry out the experiment with minimum errors and determined the value of ‘g’ using
experimental results with success.

Discussion
We realized that we have made quite a number of mistakes during the experiment, and
they are listed below.

Sources of error

Possible human and systematic errors:

1. For the first trail we have misused the protractor. Hence we obtained some inaccurate
records.
2. We may have moved the stand and the clamp when we were adjusting the angle
displaced of the metal sphere which is being attached; hence angular displacement,
as well as the length of the string may be increased.
3. We may have applied some extra force when releasing the metal sphere. This causes
a shorter (invalid) period time as the metal sphere moves faster.
4. We have only measured the time taken for the pendulum to oscillate 3 times.
Furthermore, we displace the angle at 15o
5. We distributed our works separately – one person to release the metal sphere, and
another to record the time last for oscillations (period). Thus, we had may have started
or stopped the timer either a bit quicker or slower for same entries as the reaction time
between the two people is different.

Possible environmental errors:

6. For some of the trials, we noticed that there were strong winds which caused the
metal sphere to move in a higher speed than normal. The stand was also shaking,
affecting the motion of the pendulum.
7. There is air resistance acting on the moving string (and the metal sphere), which gave
less accurate results.

Improvement

Although we cannot control all the environmental factors affecting our results, we can
reduce human errors. In order to avoid the above errors/flaws, a number of precaution
steps should be taken.

First of all, we must have used the protractor in the correct way. i.e. Place the hole over
the vertex of the angle instead of placing the edge on the vertex.

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Another improvement that can be done is to minimize the time delay between releasing
the metal sphere and starting the stopwatch by allowing the same person to control
stopwatch as he released the metal sphere, instead of deliver the work separately. We
believed this could give more accurate data entries.

It is very important that the stand remains stationary; we should prevent ourselves from
applying forces on the apparatus. In addition, we could add extra weight on the bottom of
the stand without touching any part of the pendulum.

Another flaw that we made was that we used 15 o as the displaced angle, which was
supposed to be ¿ 5o to make the theory valid. We recorded each data entry with just 3
oscillations, we should have measure for a longer period of time (5 oscillations), so that
minimize the errors concerning slow reaction time.

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Reference
Websites:
1. http://www.practicalphysics.org/go/Experiment_480.html
2. http://www.scribd.com/doc/15685729/Simple-Pendulum-Lab
3. http://www.tutorvista.com/content/physics/physics-i/measurement-and-
experimentation/simple-pendulum.php

Books:
1. Important Notice for Measurement of g by Samuel Vu
2. Measurement of g using pendulum (Anonymous)
3. Measurement of g (reference material) by Samuel Vu
4. The Simple and Physical Pendulum by Rohan Singh
5. The Simple Pendulum by Dr. James E. Parks

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