PHys 21 Physical Pendulum

Experiment 14
The Physical Pendulum
The period of oscillation of a physical pendulum is found to a high degree of accuracy by

two methods: theory and experiment. The values are then compared.
Theory
For a rigid body that is constrained to rotate about a fixed axis, the gravitational torque
about the axis is
(1)
where 1 = the mass of the body, 2 = the acceleration due to gravity, 3 = the distance from
the axis of rotation to the center of mass, and 4 = the angular displacement of the center of mass
from equilibrium. (Refer to Figure 1.) The mass need not be continuous. Also, the axis need not
intersect the body.
Figure 1. Rigid body rotating about a fixed axis.
1
The torque produces an angular acceleration according to the rotational version of Newton's
Second Law:
(2)
where 5 = the moment of inertia of the body about the axis of rotation. Eliminating 6 in (1)
and (2), the result is
(3)
For sufficiently small oscillations about the equilibrium position (an angular displacement of 7
causes an error of less than 0.1%), 8 may be replaced by 9 (assuming 10 is expressed in
radians). Hence, (3) becomes the differential equation that describes simple harmonic motion:
where the angular frequency of oscillation is
which is measured in radians per second. The frequency, which is measured in cycles per second,
or hertz, is thus
since one cycle corresponds to 11 radians. The period is therefore
(4)
This formula can be checked for the special case of a simple pendulum, for which 12. In
this case (4) yields
(5)
which is the correct result.
Equation (4) holds for any rigid body. In the experiment all of the bodies have uniform
mass density. In this case 13 and 14 are independent of the value of density. Hence, 15,
2
16, and 17 can be determined using an unknown density; this quantity will cancel when the
expressions for 18, 19, and 20 are substituted into (4). According to the particular body,
it may be convenient not to use the volume density defined as
but rather the areal density, defined as
or the linear density, defined as
Apparatus
o physical pendulum o knife edge

o table clamp and upright o right-angle clamp
o meter stick, vernier caliper, and/or ruler o stopwatch
Each group will use a different pendulum. The various pendulums are shown in Figures 2
and 3.
Part I: Description
Give a clear and precise description of the body and the axis of rotation. Because a high
degree of accuracy is required, carefully perform all length measurements to the nearest fraction of
a millimeter. Because the body is homogeneous, its mass need not be measured. (Refer to the
Theory section.) Include a clearly labeled diagram that contains all relevant length measurements.
3
4
Figure 2. Physical pendulums shown with their various axes of rotation. The
centers of mass can be determined by symmetry.
5
Part II: Theoretical Period
Using the length measurements in Part I, determine the total mass, 21, in terms of the
unknown volume density, 22, areal density, 23, or linear density, 24. (Refer to the Theory
section.) Determine the value of the distance, 25, from the axis of rotation to the center of mass.
In terms of the density that was chosen above, determine the moment of inertia, 26, about the
axis of rotation. Formulas for standard moments of inertia, together with the parallel-axis theorem
and the plane-figure theorem, should be used. Show all calculations clearly and completely. State
any approximations. Using (4) compute the theoretical period of oscillation. The result should
have an uncertainty less than 0.5%.
Part III: Experimental Period
Accurately measure the period of oscillation for small amplitudes (less than 27). This
can be accomplished by counting a large number of oscillation (between 50 and 100) and dividing
the total time by the number of oscillations. Perform at least three trials. The three values should
deviate from one another by less than 0.5%. Determine the average period. Clearly display the raw
data and the calculations.
Part IV: Results
Clearly display together the theoretical and experimental values of the period of oscillation
in a results table. Determine the percentage error. This should be less than roughly 0.5%. If the
error is equal to or greater than 1%, at least one mistake has been made. Check the measurements
and the calculations. Locate and eliminate the error(s).
Questions
1) If the amplitude is large, will the resultant period be greater than, less than, or equal to
the period for small amplitudes? Explain.
2) In general, if the entire mass of a physical pendulum is imagined to be moved to the

center of mass, will the period of this simple pendulum be greater than, less than, or
equal to the original period? Explain.
3) In general, if the entire mass of a physical pendulum is imagined to be moved to a

position equal to the radius of gyration away from the axis of rotation, will the period of
this simple pendulum be greater than, less than, or equal to the original period?
Explain.

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Experiment 14

The Physical Pendulum

The period of oscillation of a physical pendulum is found to a high degree of accuracy by

Figure 1. Rigid body rotating about a fixed axis.

where the angular frequency of oscillation is

since one cycle corresponds to 11 radians. The period is therefore

which is the correct result.

but rather the areal density, defined as

or the linear density, defined as

o physical pendulum o knife edge

Part III: Experimental Period

Part IV: Results

2) In general, if the entire mass of a physical pendulum is imagined to be moved to the

3) In general, if the entire mass of a physical pendulum is imagined to be moved to a

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