Addis Ababa University

College of Natural Science

Department of Physics
Experiments in General Physics
(Phys1011) Laboratory report

Title: Local acceleration due to gravity using

simple pendulum
Date of the Experiment 01/12/24 Reported Date 06/12/24

By

Section 8 EIABC Group 1

Name of Students ID

1. Abenezer Nebyu UGR/4877/17

2. Adoniyas woldegebriel UGR/6294/17
3. Gediyon George UGR/8811/17
4. Mesinanat Fitsum UGR/3973/17

Name of Course Instructor: Dr. DagneW.

Name of Lab Assistance: Mr. Debebe M.
Ethiopia ©2024
 Local Acceleration due to gravity using
simple pendulum

Abstract

 This lab report is aimed to explore the local acceleration due to gravity(g) by using simple pendulum
.The time period of oscillation for the simple pendulum of varying values where measured , and the
relationship between the square of the period(T2) and the length of the pendulum (L) was examined.
The relationship of the two was observed, approving the theoretical equation T=2π√L/g, which
becomes g=4π2 L/T2.
 Investigate the relation between the period of a simple pendulum and its length.
 Determine local acceleration due to gravity.

Purpose
 The purpose of this experiment is to determine the local acceleration due to gravity
by using simple pendulum. By using the time of oscillation, length of the pendulum
and applying the theoretical relationship between them, this experiment aims to
approve the dependence of gravity on the variables mentioned on the Abstract
(examining the relationship between the period of the simple pendulum and its
length). In addition to that we are also able to assess the reliability of the simple
pendulum sample as the method of calculating the gravitation acceleration.

Materials
Equipment Quantity
Mass(bob of different size) 2

String with manageable length 2

Support( rod or ceiling) 1
Digital or analog stopwatch 1
Meter stick 1

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 Introduction
 Gravitational acceleration is a fundamental is a fundamental physical constant that explains the rate at which a
given object accelerates towards the earth’s surface under the influence of gravity. Understanding this variable
is essential in understanding most topics in general physics.

 The simple pendulum exhibits simple harmonic motion (SMH) ,is a type of oscillatory motion where the
object moves back and forth, because of this we are able to calculate the gravitational constant by the
period of the pendulum. Simple pendulum moves in simple harmonic motion for very small angular
displacements, i.e. The angle will not exceed 10 o and the acceleration is directly proportional to the
displacement of the simple pendulum. Hence the period T of the simple pendulum;

T=2 π √L/g

Where: T= the period

L= length of the pendulum
g= gravity

There for by using the above formula and rearranging it we can determine the formula:

g=4π2 L/T2

Methods
 Setup:
 A simple pendulum was made by using by using 2 small bobs of different size and 2 strings.
 Supporting rod was used
 Digital stop watch was used to measure each oscillation of the pendulum form small angle
 Meter stick or ruler was used to measure the length of the string from which the bobs where
suspended.

 Procedure:
 We measured the length of the string to be exactly 80 cm from the rod used to support it.
 Then we displaced the pendulum slightly, not exceeding 100.
 We released the pendulum and allowed it to complete full four complete cycles, while keeping
eye on the stop watch.
 Then we divided the total time into four to get the average period of the cycle and denoted it
as T.
 We repeated this process total of 5 times including the first one, while each time increasing
the length of the string by 10 cm.

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 Data and results

Number of Time t of Length (l) Time T for T2 g g − ḡ (g − ḡ)2

activity Oscillation(s) each oscilla-
tion in cm
1 6.52 80 1.63 2.65 9.77 1 1
2 6.99 90 1.74 3.05 11.6 0.9 0.81
3 7.20 100 1.80 3.24 10.9 0.2 0.04
4 8.13 110 2.03 4.13 10.50 0.3 0.09
5 8.25 120 2.06 4.25 11.12 0.42 1.764
Average 7.41 ------- 1.85 3.464 10.7 0.564 0.423

Result
 Error% = (0.56/9.81)100%
=5.70%

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
9.5 10 10.5 11 11.5 12

Graph 1 Graph of period T vs Gravity

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 gravity
140

120

100

80

gravity
60

40

20

0
9.5 10 10.5 11 11.5 12

Graph 2. Length (L) vs. calculated gravity (g)

 The calculated value of gravitational accelerations using the simple pendulum experiment was 10.7s m/s²,
while the accepted value is 9.81 m/s². The percentage of errors was calculated to be 5.7%. The percentage of
errors exceed the threshold of 5% by 0.7typically expected for this experiment, indicating potential minor
issues with the experimental setup ,measurements, or assumptions taken.

Discussion
 As stated on the result section above, the percentage of error came up to be 5.70 which is little higher than
the expected 5% for this experiment, this may have come because of several reasons like human error while
using the stop watch and the group members were eyeballing the angle which was expected to be less than
10 degrees this may have resulted longer oscillation cycles which of course will affect the time.

 In order to minimize errors in this reaction the use of physics lab materials such as a photogates; to
eliminate human error in using the stop watch, laser range finder; to eliminate string length issues and angle
measuring device to ensure the bob is at angle less than 10 degrees. By doing these things, we can get more
precise result than this.

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 Conclusion
 The experiment show the average calculated gravity to be around 10.7 but the theoretical gravity is 9.81
according to this the graph was expected to have straight lines but because of several issues it is not.
However, the results still demonstrate the basic principle that the period of a simple pendulum depends on its
length and the local gravitational acceleration. With improved techniques, this method could yield more
accurate results.
 The experiment also shows we can use simple pendulum to analyze the local acceleration due to gravity easily
in our school laboratory.

Postlab questions

1. What is the relation between period and the amplitude of the oscillations?
 The period (T) of a simple pendulum is independent of the amplitude as long as the amplitude is
small. This independence holds because the equation T = 2π √ (L / g) (derived under the assumption
of small oscillations) does not include amplitude. For larger amplitudes, the period increases slightly
due to non-linear effects.

2. Does the change of mass affect the acceleration due to gravity?

 No, acceleration due to gravity is not dependent on the mass of object used ,in this case the mass of
the pendulum, it is only dependent on the location the experiment is done example ;if it is in different
planet, in addition to this verification notice that there is no mass on the formula used to calculate the
gravity in the experiment above . g=4π2 L/T2

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 Reference
 Physics lab manual
 https://phys.libretexts.org/Courses/Berea_College/Introductory_Physics%3A_B
erea_College/27%3A_Guidelines_for_lab_related_activities/27.08%3A_Sample
_lab_report_(Measuring_g_using_a_pendulum)

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