Name of the experiment: To determine the value of g, acceleration due to

gravity by means of a compound pendulum.

1.1 Objectives:
The main objective of this experiment is to determine the acceleration due to gravity, g by
observing the time period of an oscillating compound pendulum.

1.2 Pre-lab:
A student should read the lab manual and have a clear idea about the objective, time frame, and
outcomes of the lab.
1.3Outcomes:
After completing this experiment students should be able to answer the following questions:

 What is a compound pendulum?

 What are the differences between a simple and a compound pendulum?
 How a simple harmonic motion is formed?
 What is the radius of gyration of a pendulum?
 How can you determine the length of the equivalent simple pendulum from graph?

1.4 Timing and Length of Investigation (Total 3 Hours):

 Lab Preparation (15 minutes):
 Students will sit for the lab class with preparations and class attendance
will be taken.
 Lecture on Theory (30 minutes):
 Teacher will clarify the objective and theory of the experiment.
 Lecture on Procedure (15 minutes):
 Demonstrator will make the students understand the procedure of the
experiment.
 Experimental Work (90 to 100 minutes):
 Design of experiment: 10 minutes
 Data collection: 30 minutes
 Data analysis, drawing graphs, and completing the result part: 50 to 60
minutes
 Post Lab Discussion (15 to 20 minutes):
 Teacher will summarize the total lab work and have a discussion with the
students related to the questions given in the outcomes part.
 Report Submission:
 After completing the lab reports on Microsoft Word, students will submit
their lab reports in the next class as groups.
1.5 Theory:

Compound pendulum is a rigid body of any shape free to turn about a horizontal axis. For this
experiment consider a rigid body AB of mass m free to vibrate about a horizontal axis through
the center of suspension O (Figure-1). G is the position of center of gravity of the body for which
the distance from the center of suspension to center of gravity OG=l .

Figure-1

When the pendulum is at an angle θ to the vertical, the torque acting upon the body due to its
weight mg would be
τ =mgl Sinθ
For small amplitude of vibrations, sinθ=θ, so that

τ =mglθ … … … … … …( 1)

The torque produces an angular acceleration α in the body. If I is the moment of inertia of
the body about ‘S’ then
τ =Iα … … … … … … ..(2)
So, from equation (1) and (2),

Iα=mglθ … … … … … (3)

Let K be the radius of gyration of the body and its moment of inertia about G is m K 2.
Thus, according to the parallel axis theorem, the total moment of inertia of the body is
I =m( K 2 +l 2)
Substituting the value of I in equation (3), we get

m(K 2 +l 2) α=mglθ

glθ
α= 2 2
( K +l )

As the angular acceleration is proportional to the angular displacement so the motion is

simple harmonic and the time period is

√
2 2
K +l
T =2 π … … … … … … … … … .(4 )
gl

Since the periodic time of a simple pendulum is given by,

L
T =2 π
g √
The period of the rigid body (compound pendulum) is the same as that of a simple pendulum of
length,
K 2 +l 2
L=
l

2 2
∴ l −¿+k =0

Solving this quadratic equation, we get two roots l 1 and l 2 where

l 1 +l 2=L and l 1 l 2=K 2

In the figure, OG=l 1∧GS=l 2 .Thus, L=l 1 +l 2=OG+ GS=OS .

The point S is called the center of oscillation. The points O and S are interchangeable i.e., when
the body oscillates about O or S, the time period is the same.

If this period of oscillation is T, then from the expression T =2 π

2 L
√ L
g
, we get,

g=4 π .
T2

By finding L graphically and determining the value of the period T, the acceleration due to
gravity (g) at the place of the experiment can be determined.
1.6 Apparatus:
A bar pendulum, stop watch and a stand for hanging pendulum.

1.7 Procedure:

1. Observe the center of gravity G of the bar by counting the number of holes.
2. Insert the metal wedge in the first hole in the bar towards A and place the wedge on the
support S1S2 so that the bar can turn round S (figure-2).
3. Set the bar to oscillate taking care to see that the amplitude of oscillations is not more
than 50. Note the time for 20 oscillations.
4. Measure the length from the point of suspension to the center of gravity G of the bar.

Figure-2

5. In the same way suspend the bar at holes 2,3,…….. and each time note times for 20
oscillations. Also measure distances from the center of gravity G for each hole.
6. When the middle point of the bar is passed, it will turn round so that the end B is now on
the top. But continue measuring distances from the point of suspension to the center of
gravity G.
7. Now calculate the time period T from the time recorded for 20 oscillations.
8. Plot a curve in excel with length as abscissa and period as ordinate with the center of
gravity of the bar at the origin at the middle of the paper along the abscissa.
9. Put the length measured towards the end A to the left and that measured towards the end
B to the right of the origin. A line ABCD drawn parallel to the abscissa intersects the two
curves at A B C and D. Here also the length AC or BD is the length of the equivalent
simple pendulum.
1.8Observations:

Table -1: Observation for the time period and the distance of the point of
suspension from CG for End- A.

Distance Time for 20 Mean time Period

From CG Oscillations
Hole no.
L t T = t / 20
(cm) (s) (s) (s)
(1)
1 45
(2)

(1)
2 40
(2)

(1)
3 35
(2)

(1)
4 30
(2)

(1)
5 25
(2)

(1)
6 20
(2)

(1)
7 15
(2)
Table- 2: Observation for the time period and the distance of the point of
suspension from CG for End- B.

Distance Time for 20 Mean time Period

From CG Oscillations
Hole no.
L t T = t / 20
(cm) (s) (s) (s)
(1)
1 45
(2)

(1)
2 40
(2)

(1)
3 35
(2)

(1)
4 30
(2)

(1)
5 25
(2)

(1)
6 20
(2)

(1)
7 15
(2)
From the T vs L graph,

Length AC = ---------------- cm, Length BD = ------------------- cm.

AC  BD
Equivalent length of compound pendulum, L = 2 = ------------------- cm.

Equivalent time period of compound pendulum, T = --------------------- sec.

1.9 Calculation:

4 2 L
g= T2

1.10 Results:

The value of acceleration due to gravity ¿ … … … … … … … … cm s−2

1.11 Resources:
For further understanding, students may go through the following resources:
 Fundamentals of Physics: Pendulum, Circular motion (Chapter-15, page-424).
 Practical Physics (by Dr. Giasuddin Ahmed & Md. Shahabuddin): Exp. 13:
To determine the value of g, acceleration due to gravity, by means of a compound
pendulum (page-78).