Simple Pendulum

Aim:-
To determine
1. The acceleration due to gravity and
2. Length of the second's pendulum from L−T 2 graph using simple
pendulum.
3. Percentage error in acceleration due to gravity at your place

Apparatus:-
Thread, Pendulum bob, Split cork, report stand, meter scale, stop clock and Vernier
calipers.

Description:-
A simple pendulum consists of a small heavy metallic sphere (bob) suspended from
a twistless and inextensible string (thread). The other end of the string is passed through
the centre of split cork fixed to a report stand. The two lower surfaces of the cork must
be in the same horizontal plane. The distance between the point of suspension (O) and
the centre of the bob(A) is called length of the simple pendulum (l=OA).

Principle:-
Length of 1 main scale division S 1mm
Least count of Vernier calipers= = = =0.01cm
No . of Vernier scale divisions N 10

Formula:-

Time period of simple pendulum when it is in SHM is T= 2π

 L
g

∴ g= 4π
2
 
T
l
2
cm / sec 2

Where g is acceleration due to gravity in cm / sec 2

l is the length of the pendulum in cm
T is the time for one Oscillation in Seconds.
Percentage error in acceleration due to gravity is
g g '−g
x 100= x 100
g g
where g = 9.8 m s-2 = 980 cm s-2
g' = calculated value of g at a given place.
Procedure:-
Vernier calipers is used for the determination of the diameter of the bob of the
simple pendulum. First the main scale division 'S' and the no.of vernier scale
divisions 'N' are noted.Then the least count of vernier calipers is calculated by using
S
the formula L . C= N .The bob is gently gapped between the jaws of the vernier
calipers and then the main scale reading and the vernier coincidence are noted. The
experiment is repeated 5 to 6 times and the average radius 'r' is calculated. The
observations noted in the tabular form.
The length of the pendulum 'l' is adjusted to 50 cm. After subtracting the
radius of the bob from the distance between point of suspension and end of the bob,
the bob is drawn aside through small distance from it's equilibrium position and then
released. It begins to oscillate in the vertical plane. After few oscillations time period
is noted for 20 oscillations with the help of the stop clock. The experiment is
repeated and the average time 't' for 20 oscillations is calculated. Then the time for 1
oscillation gives the time period (T). The experiment is repeated 5 to 6 times by
increasing the length of the pendulum in steps of 10 cm, and in each case 'T' and

 
T
l
2 are calculated. The observations are noted in the tabular form. Then the

l
acceleration due to gravity 'g' is calculated from the mean value of 2
T

∴Acceleration due to gravity g= 4π

2
 
l
T2
cm / sec 2

Graphs:
l −T Graph:-

A graph is drawn with the values of 'l' on

X-axis and the values of 'T' on Y-axis.It is a
rectangular hyperbola as shown in the figure

l−T 2 Graph:-
A graph is drawn with the values of 'l'
on X-axis and the values of T 2 on Y-
axis. It is a straight line passing through origin as shown in the figure.

2
T

0 X
l

Length of second pendulum

A graph is drawn with the values of 'l' on X-axis and the values of T 2 on Y-axis. It
is a straight line passing through the origin as shown in the above fig. The length of the pendulum
corresponds to T 2 =4 gives the length of the seconds pendulum (OA) .
Observations:-

Length of 1 MSD = cm
Number of divisions on the vernier scale(N) =
S
L . C=
N = --------------------cm

Tables:-
To determine the diameter of the bob

S.No Main scale reading Vernier Fraction Diameter

a (cm) coincidence (n) b=n×L .C  cm  d=(a+b) cm
1

Average diameter 'd' = cm

d
Radius r= 2 = cm
l
To determine the average 2 value:
T
2
S.No Length of Time period T l
t
=constant
the Time for 20 oscillations T= sec 2 T2
pendulum 20
cm/ sec 2
Trail- 1 Trail -2 Mean (t) sec
L cm

L
Mean value of 2
=−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−cm / sec 2
T
 2 L
Acceleration due to gravity g= 4π 2
=−−−−−−−−−−−cm / sec 2
T
Precautions:
1. The amplitude should be small
2. The bob should not spin as it oscillates in the vertical plane
3. The lower faces of split-cork should be in the same horizontal plane.
4. While measuring the diameter of the bob, it should be gently gripped
between the two jaws of the vernier calipers and readings should be taken
with out parallox error.

Result:-

1. Acceleration due to gravity at a given place g=−−−−−−cm / sec 2

2
2. Length of seconds pendulum from L−T graph= −−−−−cm .
3. The percentage error in acceleration due to gravity at a given place is .......