NUST COLLEGE OF ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENT # 2 Center of Percussion of a Compound Pendulum

OBJECTIVE

To determine the center of percussion of the wooden compound pendulum.

INTRODUCTION

When a simple pendulum swings against a stop, there is no horizontal reaction at the pivot when
a rigid body similarly swings, there is some point along its length which will be moving at the
same periodic time as the simple pendulum called center of percussion.

APPARATUS

Figure No. 2 Wooden Compound pendulum

PROCEDURE

1. Adjust the length of simple pendulum so that the length of the bob from the knife-edge is
equal to the equivalent length of the compound pendulum that is
l = (k2 + h2) / h
2. The simple pendulum is allowed to swing so that the spherical bob strikes the edge of
compound pendulum and causes the latter to swing.
3. The simple pendulum is in vee groove the only horizontal movement possible is that of
the compound pendulum resting on its flat support. It may be observed that no horizontal
movement is produced with the simple pendulum at length ‘l’ and that for any other
values of l, horizontal movement is produced. Simple pendulum length of 0.407 m
demonstrates the concept of center of percussion.
 NUST COLLEGE OF ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATIONS

Center of gravity =

S/no. t20 (sec) T1 A (m) h (m) Ko (m) L eq (m)

K2 + h2
leq =
h

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