Experiment

Dy
Object. To determine the acceleration due to gravity
g in laboratory
using a bar
pendulum.
Apparatus
cage fixed required. Bar pendulum, stop watch, metre scale, knite
to a
rigid support, spirit level, BALANCING SCREW
Fig. 3.1Description
of the
shows a bar apparatus.
pendulum. It is the
Simplest form of a compound
consists of a 1 m pendulum. It
AB long brass (or iron) bar
having several holes each of diameter
nearly 5 mm drilled along its length in a KNIFE EDGE
straight line at an equal separation of 5 cm, Glo
- BAR PENDULUM
Symmetrically on
of
either side of its centre HOLE
gravity G. Any desired hole may be KNIFE EDGE
slipped on to a fixed horizontal knife edge
and the bar can be made
to oscillate about
it in a vertical
plane. B
n
experiment, we use two knife Fig. 3.1
edges, instead of one fixed knife edge. The other movable knife
in a hole on other side of centre of edge is fitted
of fixed knife edge from the centre ofgravity at a distance equal to the
distance
centre of gravity of gravity. This keeps the position of
the bar unchanged.
Theory. If the point of suspension is at a distance from the
of gravity, then the bar pendulum behaves like a centre
length L=l+ (K<-) where K<l is the distancesimple pendulum of eifective
the centre of gravity and K is the radius of of pointofof oscillation from
relative to its centre of gravity. Hence time gyration the bar peñdulum
pendulum is period of oscillations of bar

T-27-2(K)
8 (3.1)
The pendulum is allowed to oscillate about
passing through successive holes from one end tothethehorizontal knife edge
period is determined for each case. Then a other end and timne
ofknife edge from one end of the bar on graph is plotted with the distance
period on Y-axis, we get iwo symmetricalX-axis and the corresponding time
in Fig. 3.2. From the graph it is obvious curves ABC and DEF as shown
that
 i) Both the branches ABC and DEF of the graph are symmetrical
about the axis passing through centre of gravity G.
(ii) As the distance of horizontal knife edge from one end of the bar
ncreases, first the time period decreases. At one stage, the time period
becomes minimum. Then with
further increase in distance,
p D (2 the time period rapidly
increases. The time period
becomes infinite at centre of

gravity.As we move towards

the other end of bar from its
centre of gravity, the time
s . period again decreases,
becomes minimum and then
with the increase in
increases
distance.
(i1) Ifa straight line SS"
X a G d
X is drawn parallel to X-axis, this
DISTANCE FROM ONE END OF BAR (IN cm)-- line cuts the two branches on
Fig. 3.2 graph at points S , O', O and
S'. The time period is same for these points. Obviously, S and O is one pair
of points of suspension and point of oscillation, while S' and O' is another
pair of these points.
The effective length of the equivalent simple pendulum
L- SO S'O =

or L ab a'b' and time period T GR

.. From eqn. (3.1), 8 =

4r T2 ..(3.2)
Thus the value of g can be calculated.
(iv) If the lowest points B and E of the two branches are joined by
a line BE, then
BE- 2 K and TminGN
sincetime period is minimum at + K in eqn. (3.1)
Thus for the minituin time period of a bar pendulum, the distance of
centre of gravity of the pendulum fronm its point of suspension is equal to
its radius of gyration with respect to its centre of gravity.

Thus
min2tKK)+K 2K
8

Or
41x2K ... (3.3)
 where 2K = cd and GN= Tmin

Thus the value of g can also be calculated from eqn. (3.3).

Formula used. Acceleration due to gravity g = 4TL

where L=/+ (K>/) T
=
distance of point of oscillation from the.point of suspension
effective length of equivalent simple pendulum
and T time period of bar pendulum.
I n graph shown in Fig. 3.2, L = sO = S'O' and T GR

or
8 = 4T2 2 K
2
in
where 2K cd and Tmin GN (in graph shown in Fig. 3.2).
=

Procedure. (1) First using the spirit level and the adjusting screw, the
rigid support of the knife edge is made horizontal and the bar is suspended
about the knife edge from the first hole near its one end.
(2) Note the least count of the stop watch.
(3) Then displace the bar slightly tó one side in a vertical plane
(a plane perpendicular to the knife edge) and release it. This makes the bar
pendulum to oscillate with small amplítude. Note time t for 20 oscillations
with the help of stopwatch. Then divide this time r by. the number of
oscillations to find-the time period T ( e , T = t/20) of the pendulum.

(4) Repeat the above procedure by suspending the bar from the
successive holes. On reaching the centre of gravity, the bar is turned upside
down. Continue till last hole at the other end is reached.
(5) Now measure and note the distance from one fixed end to those
points in successive holes from which the knife edge supports the bar.
Observations.
Least count of stop watch=... Sec

Distance of the point Time for 20 Time period

S. Number of of suspension (or oscillations
T=
No hole knife edge) from one 20
end of bar (in sec) (in sec)
I (in cm)
1.
2

b.

7
 8.
9
10.
11.
12
13.
14.
15.
16.
17
18
19
20.

Graphical calculations. A graph is plotted by taking the time period

T on Y-axis and the distance I of the knife edge from one end of bar on
X-axis. We get two symmetrical curves ABC and DEF, about the axis passing
through centre of gravity, as shown in Fig. 3.2. Draw a straight line SS'
parallel to X-axis and join the lowest points B and E of the two branches
by a straight line BE.
i) From graph, L S0 =ab =.. cm
L = S'O' = a'b'= . . cm

Mean L = . . Cm
2
and T =GR= . Sec

. Acceleration due to gravity g= 4T

T2
cm/sec . . metre/second-
ii) From graph, , 2K BE = cd = . . cm

and Tmin=GN = ... sec

Acceleration due to gravity g =4T? x

2
Tmirs
... cm/sec=.. metre/second
(Remember that 100 cm/sec=| metre/second )
(iii) Radius of gyration with respect to centre of
gravity
KBE
K= Cmn
2
Result. (1) Radius of gyration of the
given bar pendulum with respect
to its centre of gravity is K . cm
(2) Acceleration due to-gravity nd?
at place (....) g .
ITetre/secon
Standard value of g . . metre/second? (from standard table)