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EXPERIMENT 1: SIMPLE PENDULUM

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Department

Course Name

Professor

Date
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1. 0 Objective

The experiment was aimed at determining the gravitational acceleration, g, by using a simple

pendulum attached to a string and frictionless pivot. Also, the experiment focused on

determining how the angle of displacement and length of the pendulum influences the periodic

time.

2.0 Introduction

The simple pendulum experiment was used because it is simple to construct, reliable and gives

accurate data that's is required in calculating gravitational acceleration. A known mass (m) bob

is tied to a string with a specific length (L) and the string attached and suspended to a freely

rotating pivot. The properties of a simple pendulum are analyzed by measuring the period (time

taken to complete one oscillation). The obtained data was then used to determine the influence

of string length, the validity theory, and the acceleration due to gravity, g.

If the pendulum is set in motion on a frictionless path at small angle from the vertical position it

swings back and forth without losing energy. The pendulum bob will rise and fall due to

gravitational influence, with energy being converted from potential energy to kinetic energy

and vice versa. At the highest position the bob has the largest potential energy (P.Energy =

mgh) while at the lowest position the bob has the largest kinetic energy (K.Energy = 1/2mv²).

The bob passes the lowest position with the highest velocity but decreases to zero at the

highest positions. The time taken to complete one oscillation is the period (T p).
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The following equations were applied in calculating the gravity acceleration (g) using periodic

time (Tp) and string length (L) varying from (0.2 m - 1.00 m).

t = tfinal - tinitial ................... (Time interval) (1)

Tp = t/15 ....................... (time for one complete oscillation) (2)

Tp = 2(L/g)1/2 ................... ..................... (3)

Tp2 = (42/g)L ........,........... ............... (4)

L = (g /42 ) Tp2 ............................... ................. (5)

3.0 Methodology

3.1 Equipments

Pendulum bob, string 2m length, stop watch and protractor.

3.2 Procedure

Using the Simulation to produce data.

The following simulation link was opened

http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/pendulum-lab/latest/pendulum-lab_en.html then using the

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stopwatch, a specific mass of pendulum, specific length (L) and different angles used to for

every oscillation to obtain data.

Using the simulator to determine Tp.

Using a pendulum length of 1.0 m, the time take to complete 15 oscillations was recorded. The period T p

was then calculated as, Tp = ∆t/15. Different target length was then and Tp calculated in each case. The

experiment focused on using different target lengths (20cm, 60cm, 100cm, 140cm, 160 cm) to

determine Tp in each case while maintaining the angle and using different angle deflections (10°, 20°,

70°, 80°). The obtained results was recorded and analyzed.

Part 1. Effect of angle deflection (and length) on the Period (the time for a Pendulum

Oscillation)

The mass of the pendulum was measured and recorded in grams, the diameter of the spherical

bob was also measured and recorded in cm. After knotting the pendulum bob, the length of the

string was measured from the center of the bob to the pivot, recorded as Length (L).

Using a protractor 10° angle deflection was measured from the vertical axis and length of string

measured as 20 cm. The pendulum was then released to swing for 15 complete oscillations and

period for 15 oscillations recorded as ∆t in seconds. The average time for single period was then

calculated Tp = ∆t/15 and recorded in the table. The period T p for different lengths 20 cm, 60

cm, 100 cm, 140 cm and 160 cm was the recorded in table, in each case using 10° deflection

angle.
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The theoritical value of the period for each length was calculated and recorded. The percentage

difference between theoritical value and measured value was then calculated and recorded for

each angle (10°, 20°, 70°, 80°). From the tables the square of each recorded T p was recorded.

The steps were then repeated for each length (L) (20 cm, 60 cm, 100 cm, 140 cm, 160 cm) and

results recorded in the tables below.

Part 2. Determining Acceleration Due to Gravity

Using Microsoft Excel, a graph of average Period Tp against Length L (Tp2 vs L) was plotted for

every recorded angle 10°, 20°, 70° and 80°. The linear equations for the graph was included in

each plot with a clear treadline as shown below.

4.0 Results

4.1 Effect of angle deflection (and length) on the Period (the time for a Pendulum Oscillation)

Recorded and Tabulated results.

Table 1: Period of Oscillation for a pendulum with different lengths and

initial deflection angles.

Target length 10° 20° 70° 80°

20 0.9 0.9 0.95 0.97

60 1.5 1.53 1.65 1.71

100 1.96 1.98 2.15 3.16

140 2.34 2.33 2.52 2.58

160 2.5 2.5 2.72 2.74

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Table 2: Percentage difference equation,

%Diff. = [(Table 1 Value for TP – Theory Value for TP)/ (Theory Value

for TP)] * 100

Target length Theory value % Diff 10° % Diff 20° % Diff 70° % Diff 80°

Tp = 2π✓(L/g)

g = 9.81 m/s²

20 0.897 0.33 0.33 5.91 8.14

60 1.553 3.41 1.49 6.25 10.11

100 2.06 2.29 3.89 4.37 7.68

140 2.374 1.43 1.85 6.15 7.69

160 2.537 1.46 1.46 7.21 8.0

Table 3: Period of Oscillation squared for a pendulum with different lengths and initial

deflection angles.

Target Length 10° 20° 70° 80°

20 0.81 0.64 0.90 0.94

60 2.25 2.34 2.72 2.92

100 3.84 3.92 4.62 4.67

140 5.48 5.43 6.35 12.82

160 6.25 6.25 7.40 7.51

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4.2 Acceleration Due to gravity results

Graph of L vs Tp for 10°

Target Length 20 60 100 140 160

Tp2 0.81 2.25 3.84 5.48 6.25

10 degrees
180

160
f(x) = 25.515199297776 x + 0.930367416486746
R² = 0.999449026151907
140

120

100
length

80

Graph of L60against Tp for 20°

40

Target length
20
20 60 100 140 160

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Tp^2
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Tp2 0.64 2.34 3.92 5.43 6.25

70 degrees
180
160
f(x) = 21.6722390779307 x + 0.685492535260877
140 R² = 0.999632027469552
120
100
length

80
60
40
20 20 degrees
0
180 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

160 Tp^2
f(x) = 25.1362034176603 x + 2.59386809997439
140 R² = 0.999547259684583

120

100
Length

80

Graph of 60
L against Tp² for 70°
40

20
Target length
0
20 60 100 140 160
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
L Tp^2

Tp² 0.90 2.72 4.62 6.35 7.40

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Graph of L vs Tp² of 80°

Target length 20 60 100 140 160

Tp² 0.94 2.92 4.67 12.82 7.51

80 degrees
180
160 f(x) = 10.385579451252 x + 36.0544354073732
R² = 0.702008176871064
140
120
100
Length

80
Calculation60of theoritical periodic time Tp, given the acceleration 9.81 m/s²
40
20
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Tp^2
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Tp = 2π✓(L/g), when L = 0.2 m

Tp = 2π✓(0.2/9.81) = 0.8971 seconds

When L = 1.6 m

Tp = 2π✓(1.6/9.81) =2.537 seconds

Calculation of acceleration due to gravity, g.

From the graph of L vs Tp² the slope of the graph is given by (slope = g/4π²),

Using graph 1 (10°) where slope = 0.255152, then 0.255152 = g/4π², g = 10.072 m/s²

Using graph 2 (20°) where slope = 0.251362, then 0.251363 = g/4π² , g = 9.9233 m/s²

Using graph 3 (70°) where slope = 0.216722, then 0.216722 = g/4π², g = 8.5554 m/s²

The average value of g = (10.072 + 9.9233 + 8.5554)/3 = 9.5162 m/s²

The experimental value of gravitational acceleration, g = 9.5162 m/s²

The percentage error of the obtained value = (Theoritical value - experimental

value)/Theoritical value × 100

(9.81 - 9.5162)/9.81 × 100 = 2.99 %

How does length influences periodic time Tp,

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From the experimental results it's clear that the longer the string length the more time it takes

to complete one oscillation, therefore length of string L and periodic time Tp are directly

proportional.

How angle of displacement influences periodic time Tp,

Using the experimental data, the angle of displacement doesn't affect periodic time. A small

angle and larger angle will have the same periodic time because the pendulum in the larger

path will accelerate more than the small angle.

5.0 Conclusion

The purpose of the experiment was achieved successfully, the acceleration due to gravity was

determined experimentally (g = 9.51 m/s²). The relation between periodic time T p and length of

String L was obtained, also the relationship between periodic time and displacement angle was

unearthed using experimental data. The experiment was a success as the experimentally

obtained gravitational acceleration, g had a small deviation of 2.99% from the theoritical value.

Also the experimental periodic had a small margin error of less than 5% compared to the

calculated theoritical periodic time. Possible sources of errors could have been caused by

stopwatch timing of periodic time and friction resistance of the pendum. Also, the acceleration

due to gravity is not equally distributed on the earth surface, some places might have slightly

more or less gravity Acceleration.