Teacher’s Signature:___________

Physics Laboratory Date: _____________________

United International University

Name: _______________________________________ ID: ______________

Section: ______ Batch: _____________ Date: _______________________

Experiment No. 05
Name of the Experiment: Determination of the gravitational acceleration (g)
by using a simple pendulum and verification of the formula T = √ .

Learning Objectives: Students will be able to design experiments to describe how

variables (length, mass, angle and gravity field) affect the motion of a pendulum.

Language Objectives:
Understand and correctly use the terms “Simple pendulum” and “period.”
Accurately describe and apply the concepts described in this section using appropriate
academic language.

Theory:

A simple pendulum may be described ideally as a point mass suspended by a massless string from
some point about which it is allowed to swing back and forth in a place. 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 a pendulum is set in
motion so that is swings back and forth, its motion will be periodic. The time that it takes to make one
complete oscillation is defined as the period T.

When a simple pendulum is displaced from its equilibrium position, there will be a restoring force that
moves the pendulum back towards its equilibrium position. As the motion of the pendulum carries it
past the equilibrium position, the restoring force changes its direction so that it is still directed towards
the equilibrium position. If the restoring force F is opposite and directly proportional to the
displacement x from the equilibrium position, so that it satisfies the relationship ⃗ ⃗ …….. (1)

Figure-1: Simple Pendulum Figure-2: Motion of the Simple Pendulum

Then the motion of the pendulum will be simple harmonic motion and its period can be calculated
using the equation for the period of simple harmonic motion T = 2π √ ………….. (2)

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Figure-3: Diagram illustrating the restoring force for a simple pendulum

Figure-1 shows a schematic diagram of the simple pendulum apparatus. If the bob (having the mass
m) is displaced to one side by an angle less than 15 degrees from the vertical position and then
released, the bob vibrate back and forth about its equilibrium position as shown in the Figure-2. The
forces acting on the bob are its weight (w = mg) and the tension (T) in the string. The weight acts
vertically and can be resolved into two components, one is acting parallel and the other is
perpendicular to the string, i.e., one along the radial direction, away from the point of suspension, and
one along the arc in the direction that the mass moves. The component of the weight or gravitational
force perpendicular to the string is the restoring force acting on the mass along the arc, which tends to
return it to its equilibrium position. Now the restoring force (F) is
F = -mg sin θ……… (3)
where the minus sign indicates that F is in an opposite direction to the angular displacement θ, g is
the acceleration of gravity. Consider Figure-3, where a mass m is suspended by a string of length l
and is displaced from its equilibrium position by an angle θ and a distance x along the arc through
which the mass moves. If θ is very small, then sin θ ≈ θ .Then the equation (3) is written as
F = -mgθ…………. (4)
The angle θ in radians is x/l, the arc length divided by the length of the pendulum or the radius of the
circle in which the mass moves. For small angular displacements from the equilibrium position, the
restoring force is proportional to the negative displacement. The restoring force is then given by
F = - mg x/l………… (5)

and is directly proportional to the displacement x and is in the form of Equation (1) where k = mg/l .
Substituting this value of k into Equation (2), the period of a simple pendulum can be found by
T = 2π √ and T = 2π√ =2π √ …………… (6)

where, L is the length of the pendulum measured to the center of the spherical bob. Therefore, for
small amplitudes the period of a simple pendulum depends only on its length and the value of the
acceleration due to gravity. Now the resulting motion of the simple pendulum is therefore a Simple
Harmonic Motion. The mass of the suspended bob does not appear in equation (6). This implies that
mass of the bob does not influence the period of the oscillation. If two pendulums having the same
length, standing side by side but with bobs of very different masses, they will have identical (same)
periods. Now, squaring equation (6), T2 = 4 π2 L / g, and T2/L = 4 π2 / g………….. (7)

Equation (7) says that, for a simple harmonic motion, the ratio of the square of its period to the length
of the pendulum is a constant. This means that if the pendulum length is increased, the period will
also increase. A plot of the T2 as a function of the L produces a straight line, for which slope is,
Slope = 4 π2/g= T2/L = ∆T2 / ∆L …….. (8)
Now, we obtain, g = 4 π2 L / T2…………………….…... (9)
Thus, the graph of the period squared against length can be used to determine experimentally the
acceleration due to earth’s gravity (g) near the earth’s surface.

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Apparatus: Computer, internet.

Part 1: Length
Procedure

1. Go to https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/pendulum-lab.
2. Click on the Pendulum Lab and then select “Lab.”
3. Set the string length to 0.5 m, the gravity to Earth (9.81 ㎨), the friction to 0, and the
mass of the object to 1 kg.
4. Drag the object to 45° and release.
5. Click the period timer button in the bottom left corner. Click on the play button and
record the period in the data table.
6. Reset the system by clicking the stop sign button repeating Step 3.
7. Decrease the length of the string by 10 cm (0.1 m).
8. Repeat Steps 4 and 5.
9. Repeat Steps 6-8 three more times.
10. Compare the periods of the object’s motion for each length of string and make a
conclusion on the effect of additional string length on the period.

Experimental Data: Table-1

Length L 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1

(m)

Time of 10
Oscillations (s)

Period T
(s)

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Conclusion:

Q: What can you conclude about the relationship between length and period?

Q: What do you think the period would be of an object in the same scenario but with string
length of 60cm?

Part 2: Mass
Now we will see how the mass affects the period.
Procedures:
1. Set the string length to 0.5 m, the gravity to Earth (9.81 ㎨), the friction to 0, and the
mass of the object to 1 kg.
2. Drag the object to 45° and release.
3. Click on the play button and record the period in the data table.
4. Reset the system by clicking the stop sign button repeating Step 3.
5. Decrease the mass of the object by 0.1 kg.
6. Repeat Steps 2 and 3.
7. Repeat Steps 4-6 three more times.
8. Compare the periods of the object’s motion for each mass of object and make a
conclusion on the effect of additional mass on the period.

Experimental Data: Table-2

Mass m (kg) 1 .9 .8 .7 .6

Time of 10
Oscillations (s)

Period T (s)

Conclusion:

Q: What can you say about the relationship between mass and period?

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Q: What would the period be of an object with mass 1.1 kg?

Part 3: Gravity
Now we will see how the gravity affects the period.
Procedures:
1. Set the string length to 50 cm, the gravity to 10 ㎨, the friction to 0, and the mass
of the object to 1 kg.
2. Drag the object to 45° and release.
3. Click on the play button and record the period in the data table.
4. Reset the system by clicking the stop sign button repeating Step 3.
5. Decrease the gravity of the object by 1 ㎨.
6. Repeat Steps 2 and 3.
7. Repeat Steps 4-6 three more times.
8. Compare the periods of the object’s motion for each gravitational force and make
a conclusion on the effect of gravity on the period.

Experimental Data: Table-3

Gravity (㎨) 10 9 8 7 6

Time of 10
Oscillations (s)

Period T (s)

Conclusion:

Q: What can you say about the relationship between gravity and period?

Q: What would the period be of an object with gravity 11 ㎨?

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Part 4: Mass and Number of Swings (Dual Pendulum)

Hypothesis: As the mass of the pendulum _________________ the number of swings will
__________________.

Now we will see how the pendulum affects the number of swings.
Procedures:
1. For this activity keep the length of both pendulums the same but different mass.

2. Click . Start both pendulums at 90 degrees.

3. Check the other tools button and use the timer to keep track of the time.

4. Click play on the timer and then again so that the pendulums are released.
5. Count the number of full swings for 30 seconds.
6. Record the data on the table below.

Experimental Data: Table-4

Mass (kg) Length (m) Number of full swings

in 30 Second

Pendulum 1

Pendulum 2

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Conclusion:

Q: Did mass affect the number of full swings? Write a conclusion based on the data you
collected.

Q: Why do you think mass does not affect the time it takes for the pendulum to make a full
swing?

Part 5: Length and Number of Swings (Dual Pendulum)

Hypothesis: As the length of the pendulum _________________ the number of swings will
__________________.

Now we will see how the pendulum affects the number of swings.
Procedures:
1. For this activity the mass should stay the same but the length will change each time.
2. Click and conduct the following investigation.
3. Use the photogate timer and record the period it takes for each length. Remember
the period of a pendulum is the time it takes the pendulum to make one full back-and-
forth swing. Click reset again.
4. Next, use the timer (by clicking other tools) and observe the number of swings the
pendulum makes each time you change the length.
5. Each time you adjust the length, count the number of full swings in a 30 second
interval.
6. Make sure that the pendulum is released at the same position each time.
7. Record the data on the table below.

Experimental Data: Table-5

Mass (kg) Length of the Time of 10 Period (s) Number of swings

Pendulum (m) Oscillations (s) in 30 seconds
0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

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Conclusion:

Q: Was your prediction correct?

Q: How can you get the shortest period?

Q: How can you get the longest period?

Q: Write a conclusion on how the length of the pendulum affects the number of full swings?

Part 6: Verification of the formula T = √

Now we will see how the time period is verified.
Procedures:
1. Select a suitable length and suitable mass of the pendulum for example 30 cm and
0.5kg.
2. Carry out the experiment by pulling the pendulum with small angel then releasing it.
3. Fill the table.

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Experimental Data: Table-6

Tth Length L of the Tth Calculation Value of

(sec) Pendulum (m) Tth (s)
Tth = √ √ (S)
= …. (S)
Texp Timer Reading T (s) Average
(sec) value of
Texp (s)
Experimental Reading T (s) Time of 10 Oscillations (s)
Period T (s)

| |

Accuracy (%) =100% - % error =………%

Conclusion:
Q: Two pendulums are of equal masses 1 kg but length of first pendulum is 1.50 m and
second pendulum is 1 m. Which one will stop first?

Q: Two pendulums are of equal masses 1 kg and equal length 1 m. Which has the shortest
period?

Part 7: Determination of the gravitational acceleration

Now we will see how the period and gravitational acceleration is calculated.
Procedures:
1. Choose a single pendulum either a mass of 0.5kg.
2. Select a Non friction and the earth gravity.
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3. Start with a 30cm length of the pendulum then pull it slightly with a small angle
then release it.
4. Record the periodic time.
5. Change the length to 40cm and record T.
6. Repeat step 5 with another lengths; 50, 60, 70 cm, ……
7. Record the data in the following table.

Experimental Data: Table-7

Length L 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80

(m)
Time of 10
Oscillations (s)
T (sec)
T2 (sec2)

Calculation:

Plot the graph ( T2 vs L ) by using excel file and find the slope or Plot it in a graph and find
the slope.

Substitute in the following formula by the slope value. . g = 4 π2 L/T2 =

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| |

Accuracy (%) =100% - % error =………%

Result:

The acceleration due to gravity is, g 

Discussions:

Q: Two pendulums are of equal masses 1 kg but length of first pendulum is 1.50 m and
second pendulum is 1 m. Which one swings faster?

Q: Does the length of the pendulum affect the number of swings? Explain.

Q: How would the period of a simple pendulum be affected if it were located on the moon
instead of the earth?

Q: What effect would the temperature have on the time kept by a pendulum clock if the
pendulum rod increases in length with an increase in temperature?

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Q: What kind of graph would result if the period T were graphed as a function of the square
root of the length, l .

Q: What effect does the mass of the ball have on the period of a simple pendulum?

Q: What would be the effect of replacing the steel ball with a wooden ball, a lead ball, and a
ping pong ball of the same size?

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