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Experiment #1 Physics .docx

The experiment aimed to determine the acceleration due to gravity, g, using a simple pendulum and various string lengths. The calculated value of g was approximately 9.2 m/s², which is close to the accepted value of 9.8 m/s², with potential errors attributed to timing and environmental factors. The results confirmed the relationship between the period squared and the length of the pendulum, demonstrating the principles of simple harmonic motion.

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6 views

Experiment #1 Physics .docx

The experiment aimed to determine the acceleration due to gravity, g, using a simple pendulum and various string lengths. The calculated value of g was approximately 9.2 m/s², which is close to the accepted value of 9.8 m/s², with potential errors attributed to timing and environmental factors. The results confirmed the relationship between the period squared and the length of the pendulum, demonstrating the principles of simple harmonic motion.

Uploaded by

chajena103
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Kimoy Nnaocha

Experiment #1

DATE: October 3,2024


TOPIC: The Simple Pendulum
AIM: To find the acceleration, g, due to gravity
APPARATUS: Pendulum bob, metre rule, stopwatch, clamp and stand and pin in cork.
DIAGRAM:

METHOD:

1.​ Apparatus was arranged as shown above using an initial string length of approximately
100 cm.
2.​ The string was pulled aside at a very small angle and released.
3.​ Once the system oscillated smoothly, the time, t₁, for 20 oscillations was recorded,
starting the count from the centre.
4.​ The procedure was repeated to obtain the time, t₂, for another 20 oscillations using the
same string length, and the average time, t_avg, was calculated.
5.​ The average time, t_avg, for 20 oscillations was determined using six different string
lengths ranging from 110 cm to 5 cm, along with the corresponding periods, T.
6.​ The table below was completed, including the uncertainty in length, ΔL, and the
uncertainty in time, Δt.

TABLE SHOWING RESULTS COLLECTED DURING EXPERIMENT

Length of string, Time for 20 oscillations /s Period, Log L Log T


L/ ±ΔL m T/s2 ( 1 x 10-2 ) ( 1 x 10-2)
( 1 x 10-3 ) t1 ± Δt t2 ± Δt tavg ± Δt
(0.05) (0.05) (0.05)
0.97 39.26 37.25 38.26 1.91 -1 28
0.76 34.49 34.60 34.55 1.73 -12 24
0.59 31.00 30.98 30.99 1.55 -23 19
0.46 27.26 27.68 27.47 1.37 -34 14
Kimoy Nnaocha
Experiment #1

0.38 25.00 25.03 25.02 1.25 -42 10


0.30 22.88 22.83 22.86 1.14 -52 6
0.16 16.95 16.86 16.91 0.85 -80 -7
0.13 14.63 15.05 14.04 0.74 -89 -13
0.09 13.10 13.45 13.28 0.66 -105 -17.4

CALCULATIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

The relationship between the period T and the length, L, of the simple pendulum is said to be

related by the expression Tn= (4π2 L)/g where n is a constant and g is the acceleration due to

gravity. Transform the given equation for period into a linear one and plot an appropriate straight

line graph.

1.​ Find the gradient of the line drawn

m = Y2 – Y1 / X2 – X1
= -60 - (-15)/ 3 – 22.8
= -45/-19.8
= 2.27
2.​ Using the gradient calculate the value of n correct to one (1) significant digit.
n=2
3.​ Write an appropriate non-linear equation to relate T and l.
Tn = 4π2 L/g
= 4π2 /g x L

Log (Tn) = log (4π2 )/g + log (L)


n x log (T) = log (4π2 )/g + log (L)
n x log ( T) – log (4π2 )/g = log (4π2 )/g - (4π2 )/g + log ( L )
log (L) = n log (T) – log (4π2 )/g
Kimoy Nnaocha
Experiment #1

4.​ Using the y-intercept find a value for g justifying the number of significant digits used.
C = -log (4π2)/g
-0.635/-1 = -log (4π2)/g
0.635 = log (4π2)/g
10 0.635 x g = (4π2)/g x g
10 0.635 x g = 4π2
g= 4π2/ 10 0.635
g= 4 x (3.14)2 / 4.3
g= 9.2 m/s2

uncertainty for the value of the gradient


△ m/ m = △y/y + △x/x
=1/-40 +0.6/-19.80
= -0.06

GRAPH:
Kimoy Nnaocha
Experiment #1

DISCUSSION: The value of acceleration due to gravity, g, obtained from the experiment was 9.2
m/s², which is reasonably close to the accepted value of 9.8 m/s². This slight difference can be
attributed to experimental errors such as air resistance, friction at the pivot, and human reaction
time when operating the stopwatch. Timing errors, although reduced by averaging multiple
measurements and timing 20 oscillations instead of one, still contributed to the uncertainty. The
small swing angle helped to ensure that the simple pendulum formula remained valid. The
gradient of the graph was found to be approximately 2, confirming the expected relationship
between the period squared and the length of the pendulum.

PRECAUTION:​
1. Ensure that the pendulum swings with a small and steady angle to maintain simple harmonic
motion and improve timing accuracy.

LIMITATION:​
1. The experiment assumes no air resistance and a perfectly rigid, massless string, which is not
fully true in a real setup.

SOURCE OF ERROR:​
1. Human reaction time when starting and stopping the stopwatch could cause inaccuracies in
measuring the time for 20 oscillations.

CONCLUSION: In this experiment, the acceleration due to gravity g was determined to be


approximately 9.2 m/s² using the relationship between the period and length of a simple
pendulum. Although slightly lower than the standard value of 9.8 m/s², the result is reasonably
accurate considering experimental limitations. The experiment successfully demonstrated that
the square of the period of a simple pendulum is proportional to its length, and common errors
were minimized by careful timing and proper technique. Improvements such as using electronic
timing gates could further increase the accuracy of future results.

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