National University of Sciences and Technology

(NUST)
LAB REPORT

Experiment: Compound Pendulum

Student Name: Mohammad Haider Bin Arif

Section: C
Date: 03/01/2021

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 COMPOUND PENDULUM

OBJECTIVE:
1. Finding acceleration due to gravity
2. Radius of gyration (K)
3. Moment of inertia of rod

Theory:
Any object that is oscillated about the horizontal axis under the force
of gravity is known to be a compound pendulum. In this experiment we will be
using a uniform rod that will oscillate from different positions from its centre of
mass.

Apparatus:
1. Bar-pendulum
2. Knife-edge with platform
3. Stop watch
4. Meter scale or measuring tape

Fig 1.1. (A compound pendulum)

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Formulae to be used:
The time period of the compound pendulum is given
by

I
T =2 π
√ Mgh

(Equation 1)

Where:

I is the rotational inertia of the pendulum

M is mass of pendulum

h is the distance between the point of suspension and the centre of mass

NOW

I =I G + M h 2

(Equation 2)

IG is the rotational inertia of the body and is given by

IG= MK2
(Equation 3)

Substituting equation 3 in equation 2

I=M (h2+K2)
(Equation 4)

Substituting equation 4 in equation 1

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 h2+ K 2
T =2 π
√ gh

(Equation 5)

Time period of simple pendulum is given by

L
T =2 π
√ g

(Equation 6)

The time period of compound pendulum is equal to the time period of

the simple pendulum of the same length
h2 + K 2
L=
h

(Equation 7)

These equations can be used to find L and K

L=h1+h2
(Equation 8)

K=√ h +h 1 2

(Equation 9)

Method:
1. First balance the pendulum on the wedge
2. Fix the knife-edges at extreme holes on both sides
3. Marks the centre of mass
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 4. Let the pendulum reach equilibrium
5. Start the pendulum to oscillate by a very small angle
6. Note the time of your time period of your desired oscillation ideal is 20
oscillations
7. Repeat the steps 5 and 6 for each hole (oscillation should be the same)
8. Record your results in a table
9. Plot a graph taking T on y-axis and distance from G on x-axis draw two
smooth curves on both sides of G.

Side above G Side below G

h(m) total time of oscillation (s) mean time(s) h(m) total time of oscillations (s) mean time

(Model table)

(Model graph)

Calculations from graph:

1. First draw a line ABCDE parallel to the x-axis
2. The length of equivalent simple pendulum is given by

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 K2
L=l+
l

K2
Where AC=l and CD=
l

Same for CE and BC

3. Calculate ‘g’ using the formula

L
g=4π2 T

4. Draw another line A’B’C’D’E’ and find another value of ‘g’

5. Use k =
√ AC . CD+ √ BC .CE for the values of K and find the mean K
2
6. Finally calculate the mean Inertia using I=Mk2

NOW TO FIND MEAN ‘g’

AD + DE A ' D' + D' E '
I. Length of simple pendulum L= 2 & L= 2
II. Value of time period at C=T sec and C’=T sec
III. Finally find ‘g’ using the relation
L
g = 4π2 T2

How to make experiment better?

 Knife-edges should be sharp

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  Make the amplitude of vibrations small
 Distance to be measured always from centre of mass to the bottom of each
hole
 Have a good stop watch
 Draw a smooth curve on graph with suitable scale

Conclusion and Discussion:

Over all the experiment is easy to do but because of balancing the rod on wedge
nicely is makes experiment slightly difficult. There could be uncertainty in the
value of ‘g’ as there is a good chance of having errors for example

 Human reaction error

 Error in the stopwatch
 Its displacing the pendulum from the same angle every time
 Its difficult to keep the pendulum at the centre