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Lab Report 5

The student conducted an experiment to determine the relationship between the time period of a simple pendulum and its length. Measurements were taken for different pendulum lengths and the time period for 20 oscillations was recorded. The experimental results were compared to the theoretical time period calculated using the equation T=2π√(l/g). The percent error between the experimental and theoretical values was found to be small, between 1.53-3.44%, validating the theoretical relationship between pendulum length and time period.

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Hassan Mehmood
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20 views

Lab Report 5

The student conducted an experiment to determine the relationship between the time period of a simple pendulum and its length. Measurements were taken for different pendulum lengths and the time period for 20 oscillations was recorded. The experimental results were compared to the theoretical time period calculated using the equation T=2π√(l/g). The percent error between the experimental and theoretical values was found to be small, between 1.53-3.44%, validating the theoretical relationship between pendulum length and time period.

Uploaded by

Hassan Mehmood
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mechanism and Mechanical Vibration Lab

Name: Hassan Mahmood CMS ID: 336583 Class: ME-12 C

Lab Report 5
Simple Pendulum

Objective
• To determine the Time Period of Simple Pendulum for different Lengths
𝑙
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑔
Here T is the Time Period, l is the length of simple pendulum and g is the acceleration due to
gravity.

Introduction
Picture a pendulum – it's essentially a weight, known as the bob,
attached to the end of a slender cord. This bob is hung from a fixed point,
and when you give it a push to the side and let it go, gravity takes over
and swings it back to where it started.
In this experiment, our goal is to figure out how long it takes for this
simple pendulum to complete one full swing, and we'll do this by
measuring its length. We'll use a formula for this purpose. We'll also
measure the time it takes for 20 swings using a stopwatch, and then we'll
compare the time we calculate using these methods with what we
expect based on the formula.

Apparatus
The following apparatus is required for this experiment.
• Bob
• Cord
• Balancing Pin
• Frame
• Ruler/Measuring Tape for length measurements
• Stopwatch

Procedure
The procedure of this experiment is as follows.
1. First, connect the bob to the cord using the hook.
2. Next, secure the pendulum onto the frame.
3. Measure the length of the cord and make a note of it.
4. Begin swinging the pendulum and simultaneously start the stopwatch as soon as you release the
bob.

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Mechanism and Mechanical Vibration Lab

5. Count the time it takes for 20 complete oscillations and record this time.
6. Now, shorten the length of the cord and repeat the entire process.
7. Finally, use a formula to calculate the time period based on the lengths you've measured and
compare it with the experimental results you obtained.
Results & Discussions

T𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 = 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛


At Equilibrium 𝑇0 = 𝑚𝑔
For a small Displacement 𝜃
Restoring Force =-mgsin 𝜃
We know that for a small 𝜃 sin 𝜃 ≈ 𝜃
𝑥
F=-mg 𝜃=-mg ( 𝑙 )
𝐹 𝑔
Acceleration=a=𝑚 = − 𝑙 . 𝑥
According to SHM a=-𝜔2 x
By comparison we get
𝑔
𝜔=√
𝑙
Time Period comes out to be
𝑙
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑔

Length(mm) Experimental Experimental Theoretical %Error


T for 20 T for Time Period(s)
oscillations(s) oscillations(s)
900 39.34 1.971 1.904 3.39

750 36.0 1.80 1.738 3.44


640 32.6 1.63 1.605 1.53

We conducted an experiment to explore how the length of a simple pendulum affects its oscillation
time. We used the formula T=2π√(l/g), where T stands for the time period, l is the pendulum's length,
and g is the acceleration due to gravity, to calculate the expected time period. To get the experimental
values, we timed 20 oscillations and then determined the time for one complete oscillation.

Our experiment's findings indicate that as the pendulum's length increases, the time period also
increases. This finding is consistent with what we understand theoretically about pendulum motion,
where the time period is directly related to the square root of the pendulum's length.

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Mechanism and Mechanical Vibration Lab

We calculated the percentage error in our experiment, and it's relatively small. This suggests that our
experimental results closely match the theoretical values. A low percentage of error signifies that the
experiment was conducted accurately, and the data we collected is dependable. In our case, the
percentage error falls within the range of approximately 1.53% to 3.44%, which is well within the
acceptable margin for experimental error.

The errors in our experiment can be attributed to several factors:


1. Friction between the bob and the cord.
2. Friction between the cord and the frame.
3. Air resistance.
Conclusion
In summary, our experiment effectively showcased the connection between a simple pendulum's
length and its oscillation time. As we lengthened the pendulum, the time it took to complete one
oscillation also increased, just as the formula T=2π√(l/g) predicted. The percentage error in our
experimental results, when compared to the theoretical values, was relatively small, indicating that
we conducted the experiment with reasonable precision. Additionally, we observed that the mass of
the bob did not influence the results.

This experiment serves as a practical illustration of the core principles behind pendulum motion and
how it hinges on factors like length and gravity. It underscores the importance of performing
experiments to validate theoretical expectations and emphasizes the necessity of precise
measurement and meticulous data collection to reduce errors. All in all, our findings bolster our
understanding of simple pendulum motion and its mathematical representation.

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