SYBSc Physics Practical

USPHP3
1. Determination of ‘g’ by Kater’s pendulum
Aim: To determine the intensity of gravitational field ‘g’ using Kater’s pendulum.
Apparatus: Kater’s pendulum, knife edge, pin, telescope, stopwatch, scale.
Diagram:

Procedure and Observations:

Making period approximately equal:

1. Fix the wooden weight W between the two knife-edges (K 1 and K2). Fix the wooden
mass W’ so that it is always symmetrical with W about the midpoint of the bar.
2. Fix the heavy bob B of the kater’s pendulum at one end of the bar. Due to this, the
centre of gravity moves down below the midpoint of the bar. Fix the wooden mass B’
at another end of the bar so that it is symmetrical with B about midpoint of the bar.
3. Suspend keter’s pendulum from its knife edge (K 1). Attach a pin at the lower end of
the bar. Focus the telescope on the pin. Oscillate the pendulum with small amplitude.
Measure the time interval t1 for 10 oscillation. Similarly suspend keter’s pendulum
from it’s another knife edge (K1) and measure the time interval t2 for 10 oscillation.
 Shift the position of any of the knife edges and/or movable masses to make the time
interval T1 & T2 as nearly equal as possible.
[Note: K2 is closer to the centre of gravity than K 1. Hence a small shift in the position
of K2 produces a considerable change in the periods. You can bring about the equality
of periods by shifting heavy weights W also.]

Adjustment Time for 10 oscillations Period Inference

About About t t
K1 K2 T1  1 T2  2
10 10
t1 sec t2 sec sec sec
1. Original position of
K1 andK2
2. Shifting K2 towards
K1
3.
4.

4. Measure of t1,t2,L1,l1 &l2

When you find that the periods T 1 and T2 are nearest possible find time t 1 for 100
oscillations about the knife-edge K1. Repeat at least three times. Take pendulum down
and measure the distance L1 between the knife edges. For this arrangement we shall
apply Bessel’s formula. For this purpose, Balance the pendulum on a knife-edge
mounted on a table to determine its centre of gravity and measure the distances l 1 and
l2 of knife-edges K1 and K2 from C.G. respectively.
5. Now without disturbing any other arrangement shift the knife-edge K 2 slightly (say,
through 1 cm). Measure the distance (L’) between the two knife edges. Find the
periods T1‘and T2‘for knife edges K2.
Distance of knife-edge K1 from C.G. = l1=………………………cm
Distance of knife-edge K2 from C.G. = l2=………………………cm

Ob Distance Time for 100 oscillations Period of

. No. between About K1 About K2 oscillations
the two t1 t2 t3 Mean t1 t2 t3 Mean T1 T2
knife sec sec sec t sec sec sec sec t sec sec sec
edges
L cm
1 L= T1 T2
2 L’= T1‘ T2‘

Graph:
Plot a graph of T vs l
Calculations:

4 1  T12  T22 T12  T22 

   
g 2  l1  l 2 l1  l 2 

g=…………………….cm/s2=…………………..m/ s2
Values of graph:
Te  ............. sec, Le  ..............cm

Le
Te  2
g

4 2 Le
g 2
 ...................cm / s 2  ........................m / s 2
Te

Results:
Acceleration due to gravity =g=……………………..m/s2 (By formula)
Acceleration due to gravity =g=……………………..m/s2 (By graph)