Date:

Experiment No:
Experiment Name: To determine the acceleration due to gravity(g) by using Simple
Pendulum.

THEORY:

The acceleration due to gravity ‘g, at particular place can be determined by a Simple
Pendulum. For this the following equation is used,
𝐿
T = 2√𝑔 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (i)
Here,
T = time period
L = effective length
And, g = acceleration due to gravity
Squaring equation (i) both sides, we get
𝐿
T 2 = 42 𝑔
𝐿
or, g = 42 T2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (ii)
𝐿
 is a constant and g is constant also at a particular place. So, a particular value of will be
T2
𝐿
found at that place and by putting the average value of in equation (ii). We can determine
T2
the value of g.

APPARATUS:

1. Stop watch,
2. Bob,
3. Thread,
4. Stand,
5. Scale etc.

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 PROCEDURE:

1. By a meter scale let the length of the thread of the simple pendulum l in determined.
2. Then by a slide calipers the diameter of the bob is measured from which the radius ‘r’
of the bob is calculated.
3. The effective length L=l+r is determined.
4. The pendulum is allowed to oscillate so that the angular amplitude does not exceed 4˚.
5. Time t for 20 complete oscillations is taken by a stop watch.
𝑡
6. The time period T=20 is found out and square of it is calculated.
7. By changing the length of the pendulum time periods are found out for different
effective length.
𝐿
8. T2 is found out in each case and determined 𝑇2 also.

DATA COLLECTIONS:

Table –A: Determine the radius of the bob:

Vernier constant is defined as the difference between the value of one main scale division and
one vernier scale division.
Vernier Constant, V.C. = 1 main scale division - 1 vernier scale division
According to the figure,
10 vernier scale division = 9 main scale division
9
⸫ 1 ,, ,, ,, = 10 ,, ,, ,,
So, Vernier Constant, V.C. = 1 main scale division - 1 vernier scale division
9
𝑜𝑟, 𝑉. 𝐶 = 1 −
10
10 − 9
𝑜𝑟, 𝑉. 𝐶 =
10
1
𝑜𝑟, 𝑉. 𝐶 =
10
According to the unit,
1
𝑜𝑟, 𝑉. 𝐶 = 10 mm
𝑜𝑟, 𝑉. 𝐶 = 0.1 mm
𝑜𝑟, 𝑉. 𝐶 = 0.01 cm

No of M.S reading M V.S reading Vernier Reading Mean d in Reading

obs in cm V constant d= M cm 𝒅
r= in cm
V.c in cm +(V×V.c) 𝟐
1
0.01
2

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 Table –B: Determine the acceleration due to gravity:
Time for 20
No Length acceleration t sec.
of of thread Effective
Radius Time 𝑳
obs. l length period 𝐓𝟐 g = 4𝟐
𝑳 Mean g
in cm of the 𝐓𝟐 𝐓𝟐
L=l+r 𝒕 in 𝐜𝐦 𝐜𝐦
bob r Mean T= 𝒊𝒏 𝐜𝐦
in cm st 2nd 3rd 𝟐𝟎 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒊𝒏 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒊𝒏
𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐
in cm 1 t in sec 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐
in sec

1
2
3

CALCULATION:
𝐿
g = 42
T2

1st Case,
g1 = 4 × (3.1416)2 ×
= cm/sec 2
2nd Case,
g1 = 4 × (3.1416)2 ×
= cm/sec 2

3rd Case,
g1 = 4 × (3.1416)2 ×
= cm/sec 2
Mean,
+ +
g=
3

= cm/sec 2

𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

% of error = ×100 %
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
980−960.65
= × 100%
980
= 1.97%

RESULT: The acceleration due to gravity is cm/sec 2

DISCUSSIONS:

1. Angular amplitude must be within 4

2. Diameter of the bob in taken several times and mean value is to be taken
3. The value of T should be accurate. For this time for several complete accelerations
should be taken
4. The bob should be allowed to oscillate in the vertical plane without any rotation.

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