EXPERIMENT -2: SIMPLE PENDULUM

1. Objectives

 To investigate the functional dependence of period of a pendulum on its length.

 To determine acceleration due to gravity from simple pendulum.

2. Apparatus List

 Small heavy ball (pendulum bob),

 light string,
 meter sticks;
 stop clock and
 Retort stand with clamp.
 you can simply understand from the figure below

3. Theory

 A simple pendulum is an idealized body consisting of a point mass suspended by a weight less in
extensible cord oscillating through a very small angle in the vacuum. But it is impossible to set up
idealized pendulum. However, our own pendulum may be considered approximately ideal, when
pulled to one side of its equilibrium position and released, the pendulum swings in a vertical
plane under the influence of gravity.
 The simple pendulum is another mechanical system that exhibits periodic motion.
 The motion is periodic and oscillatory

Fig 1 below shows a pendulum of length L, particle of mass M, making an angle θ with the vertical.
The forces acting on M are Mg (i.e. gravitational force) and T (i.e. the tension in the cord). The time taken
to perform one complete cycle is known as period and usually denoted by T.

SET BY: GROUP 5, SECTION R Page 1

Fig. 1 The simple pendulum

The amplitude may be expressed in several ways:

(1) the maximum height H attained by the bob

(2) the maximum horizontal displacement X, or
(3) The maximum angle of displacementθ .
 All of these are measured from the lowest point of the bob's motion. In terms of the suspension
length L, these are related by tanθ = X/ (L-H).
 We wish to determine the period of the motion.
 Choose axes tangent to the circle of motion and along the radius.
 Resolve Mg in to a radial component of magnitude Mgcosθ and
 the tangential component of Mgsinθ.

The radial components of the force supply the necessary centripetal acceleration to keep the particle
moving on the circular path (arc). The tangential component is the restoring force acting on M tending to
return it to the equilibrium position.

 Hence the restoring force, F= -Mgsinθ

Notice that the restoring force is not proportional to the angular displacement θ but to sinθ instead. The
motion is therefore, not simple harmonic. However, if the angle θ is small sinθ is very nearly equal to θ in
radians. The displacement along the arc is X=Lθ, and for small angles this is nearly straight line motion.
Hence assuming sinθ= θ

−Mgx −Mgx
We obtain; F=-Mg θ= =
L L

SET BY: GROUP 5, SECTION R Page 2

For small displacements, therefore, the restoring force is proportional to the displacement and is the
Mg
oppositely directed. This is exactly the criterion for simple harmonic motion. The constant presenters
L
the constant K is F= -Kx

The period of the simple pendulum when its amplitude is small is;

T=2 π
√ K
π
Mg √
π
g √
m =2 mL =2 L -------------------------------------- (1)

4π2 t
g= L------------------------------------------------------ (2) when (T= )
T
2
n

4. Procedure

1. We had attached a string to a rigid support high above the floor. The attachment point must be
solid so that it does not shift position as the pendulum swings.
2. ln all cases we had set the pendulum into motion so it swings in a fixed vertical plane. Avoid
oval paths, because they introduce other variables which are hard to control.
3. We had attached the given value of string length to metal bob and make it to swing with
amplitude angle of 5 degrees. Recorded the average time for10 complete vibrations taking at
least three measurements for each length.

5. Data analysis

Length of string, Time taken for 10 Period of

l / cm oscillation, t (s) oscillation( s2) 4π2
g= L
t 1 t 2 Average, t T2=(t/n)2 T2
30cm=0.3m 11.4 11.83 11.615 (1.1615)2 g=8.77 m/s2
40cm=0.4m 13.19 13.11 13.15 (1.315)2 g=9.12 m/s2
50cm=0.5m 14.61 15.5 14.83 (1.383)2 g=8.964
m/s2

6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We practiced experiment on simple pendulum last year. During that time we had taken data of the experiment.
The result of our experiment was:

SET BY: GROUP 5, SECTION R Page 3

 g1=8.77 m/s2
g2=9.12 m/s2
g3= g=8.964 m/s2

‘g’ average= (g1+ g2+ g2)/3

gavg = (8.77 8.964 m/s +9.12 m/s +8.964 m/s )/3= 8.95m/s
2 2 2 2

There might be different types of error and uncertainty.

Random errors (environmental errors):

 unpredictable errors that have no pattern or bias and which may be above or below the
true value.
 Reduced by taking several reading and average of them.

Systematic errors (instrumental errors):

 Cause a bias in your readings (they are all either too high or too low).
 Reduced by pre-calibrating of instrument.

%ERROR= [(EV-TV)/TV].100%
Uncertainty: the amount of doubt in a measurement.

6. CONCLUSION
 Generally the value of the experiment we had worked:
gavg = = 8.95m/s2

SET BY: GROUP 5, SECTION R Page 4