CENTRE OF FOUNDATION STUDIES

FOUNDATION PHYSICS I
LABORATORY REPORT

Experiment Simple Harmonic Motion

Name Muhammad Yus Shafiq bin Mohd Hafiz

Student ID 2021624034
Lab Instructor’s Name Madam Nurul Huda binti Mohd Noor
Date of Experiment 22 SEPTEMBER 2021
Member 1 Deni Akmal bin Shaharuddin (2021213938)
Member 2 Afrina Hadifah binti Rusdey (2021624498)
Member 3 Amirah Nadhirah binti Mahmud (2021851994)
Member 4
Member 5

Marks

Comment
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS

1. Define simple harmonic motion

- Regular motion that keeps repeating in the form of wave.

2. Define period of oscillation.

-Time takes to complete one oscillation.

3. Write down the equations for period of motion in pendulum and simple harmonic
motion.

𝑙
T = 2𝜋 𝑔

4. State the conditions required for a simple pendulum to exhibit simple harmonic
motion.
-Amplitude of the oscillation is less than 10.
-The mass of string is negligible.

5. How to measure period of oscillation and length of the thread?

- By using a meter ruler to measure length of the thread.
-To measure period of oscillation we must take time of the pendulum to
complete 10 complete oscillation and divided by 10.

6. If we vary the length of a pendulum, the period will change. Make an appropriate
table to record the data of l and T .

Length (l) Period (T)

L1
L2
L3
L4
 4𝜋2
7. Given an equation, 𝑇2 = l has form of a linear equation Y = mX + C. By
𝑔
plotting a graph of acceleration, 𝑇2 versus l what is the quantity represented by the
gradient of the graph?

Comparing to Y= mX+C,

4𝜋2
𝑇2 = l+0
𝑔

2
4𝜋2
Where, Y= 𝑇 , m = , X=l, C= 0
𝑔

4𝜋2
Thus the gradient, m =
𝑔

8. How do we determine the value of g from the graph of 𝑇2 versus l ?

By dividing 4𝜋2 with the gradient,m of the graph

4𝜋2
g=
𝑚
ABSTRACT

Periodic motion is any motion of a system that is continuously and identically repeated. The
time T that it takes to complete one cycle of an oscillation or wave motion is called the period,
which is the reciprocal of the frequency. The problem statements of this experiment are to
determine the value of gravitional acceleration by using a simple pendulum and to investigate the
relationship between the lengths of the pendulum to the period of motion in simple harmonic
motion. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effect of length on the period of
oscillation of a simple pendulum. Using the stopwatch to measure the period, we varied the
pendulum mass for a fixed length. The experiment used apparatus such as eraser, protractor,
ruler and thread. The length that we used in this experiment are 0.2 ", 0.4 ", 0.6 " ()* 0.8 ". We
run 3 trials for each length in this experiment. That is the period that it takes to make 10
complete oscillations depends on the length of the thread which mean if the thread length is
increase the time to make 10 complete oscillations also increase. In this way we the relationship
between the lengths of the pendulum to the period of motion can be measured as the mass is
constant in this experiment. Then we will calculate the period of oscillation of a simple
1 1
penduum, T according to Galileo’s equation. , = 2/02 and , 3 = 4/ 3 2. By graphing the
elongation of the period versus the length, we will reveal that the relationship between the
lengths of the pendulum to the period of motion in simple harmonic motion is directly
proportional.
INTRODUCTION

The problem statements of this experiment are to determine the value of gravitional acceleration
by using a simple pendulum and to investigate the relationship between the lengths of the
pendulum to the period of motion in simple harmonic motion.

Periodic motion is any motion of a system that is continuously and identically repeated. The
time T that it takes to complete one cycle of an oscillation or wave motion is called the period,
which is the reciprocal of the frequency. Wave motion, propagation of disturbances that is,
deviations from a state of rest or equilibrium from place to place in a regular and organized way.
This motion is also known as oscillation motion. The swinging of a pendulum, the vibrations of
strings and the vibrating mass on a spring are good examples of physical phenomena involve
periodic motion. Simple harmonic motion is a special case of periodic motion. In the examples
given above, the rocking chair, the tuning fork, the swing, and the water wave execute simple
harmonic motion, but the bouncing ball and the Earth in its orbit do not. Oscillation motion or
periodic motion is very easy to see in our daily life. Pendulum clock, swing at the playground,
birds flapping their wings and the string musical instruments are the easy oscillation motion that
we can find in our daily life. We can conclude that oscillation motion is important motion.

A simple pendulum is defined to have an object that has a small mass, also known as the
pendulum bob, which is suspended from a light wire or string. Exploring the simple pendulum, a bit
further, we will discover the conditions under which it performs simple harmonic motion, and we
can derive an interesting expression for its period.
APPARATUS

Thread, protractor, eraser, and a meter ruler

PROCEDURE

Setup a simple pendulum by using an eraser and thread as figure shown below. The
0.2 m length of the pendulum was measured by using meter ruler and the eraser was
tied to the end of the thread. After that, the pendulum was released about 100 from its
equilibrium and let it swing back and forth until it make 10 complete oscillation. Than,
the time for 10 complete oscillations was recorded by using a stopwatch. Next, the
operation was repeated for three times and the average time value for 10 complete
oscillation was calculated. The whole procedure was repeated by using the different
length of the thread which is 0.4 m, 0.6 m and 0.8 m.
RESULT AND ANALYSIS

TABLE 1.1
GRAPH
ERROR IN GRAPH

Centroid value of the graph

0.2 + 0.4 + 0.6 + 0.8

X= = 0.5 m
4

0.796 + 1.623 + 2.477 + 3.215

Y= = 2.03 𝑠2
4
SAMPLE CALCULATION

At length 0.8 m

1. Average time for 10 oscillation.

𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 + 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 + 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

10 T =
3

17.92 + 17.95 + 17.91

10 T = = 17.93 s
3

2. Period to complete 1 oscillation

𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 10 𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

T=
10

17.93
T= = 1.793 s
10

3. Period squared

𝑇2 = (𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 1 𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛) 2

𝑇2 = (1.793)2

= 3.215 𝑠2
4. Centroid point

0.2+0.4+0.6+0.8
X= = 0.5 m
4

0.796 + 1.623 + 2.477 + 3.215

Y= = 2.03 𝑠2
4

Centroid point = ( 0.5 , 2.03 )

5. Gradient of the graph

a) Maximum gradient

3.20 − 0.80
= 4.53 𝑠2 /m
0.76−0.23

b) Best line graph

3.22 − 0.80
= 4.03 𝑠2 /m
0.80 − 0.20

c) Minimum gradient

2.80 − 1.20
= 3.90 𝑠2 /m
0.70 − 0.29
6. Determine the uncertainty of the gradient ∆m

1
∆𝑚 = (m max - m min )
2

1
∆m = ( 4.53 - 3.90 )
2

= 0.32 s2 /m

Thus m ± ∆𝑚 = ( 4.03 ± 0.32 ) 𝑠2 /m

7. Precision

𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 ∆𝑚
× 100%
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ

0.32
× 100% = 7.94%
4.03

8) Gravitational acceleration

4𝜋2
From the equation, 𝑇 = 2
l
𝑔

Compare it with linear equation, Y = mX + C

4𝜋2
The formula for gradient, m =
𝑔
4𝜋2
Thus the acceleration due to gravity, g =
𝑚

4π2
g= = 9.80 m/s2
4.03
9) Uncertainty of acceleration due to gravity.

The formula of the acceleration due to gravity:

4𝜋2
g=
𝑚

∆𝑔 ∆𝑚
=
𝑔 𝑚

∆𝑚
∆g = (g)
𝑚

0.32
∆g = (9.80) = 0.78 m/𝑠2
4.03

Thus, g ± ∆g = (9.80 ± 0.78) m/s2

DISCUSSION
First of all, a simple pendulum was constructed by attaching a string to a stand on one end and to
a mass on the other end. The length of the string was 0.2m. The pendulum was released from
amplitude that should be less than 10° from the equilibrium state. The period for the pendulum to
complete 10 oscillations was measured using a stopwatch. The same steps were repeated but the
length of the spring was adjusted to 0.4m, 0.6m and 0.8m. For string with the length 0.2m, the
average of 𝑇(𝑠) recorded was 0.892𝑠. For the string with the length 0.4m, 0.6m and 0.8m, the
average of the 𝑇(𝑠) recorded were 1.274𝑠, 1.574𝑠 and 1.793𝑠 respectively.
Using the data recorded, a graph 𝑇 2 (𝑠) versus 𝑙(𝑚) resulted in the expected straight line. As the
graph was plotted, the gradient of the graph was calculated using the formula (m = 𝑦2 -𝑦1 /𝑥2 -𝑥1 ).
Thus, the gradient is 4.03𝑠 2 /m. The value of the gravitational acceleration can be determined
using the gradient of the graph by the formula ( 𝑔 = 4𝜋 2 /gradient). Hence, the value of the
gravitational acceleration calculated is 9.80𝑚/𝑠 2 .
One of the sources of errors that possibly occur is the human error. The human error comes in
when measuring the period using the stopwatch. The reaction time of the observer plays a
significant error when starting the stopwatch and when stopping it. This error can be minimized
by repeating the experiment many times. The second error that may occur is parallax error.
Parallax error may occur when the operator set up the angle for the amplitude. This error can be
avoided by making sure the position of the eyes is perpendicular to the measuring instrument’s
scale which is the protractor scale. Other than that, there may be an instrument error. The precise
measurement of the length of the pendulum must be taken accurately using a meter ruler to avoid
the error. Lastly, the systematic error also possibly occurred by the air resistance. The air
resistance reduces the acceleration and increases the time period of oscillations. One way to
avoid this error is all the fans at the experiment place should be switched off.
Based on experiment and calculation, it shows that different length of the pendulum produces a
different period of motion in simple harmonic motion. In this experiment, the length of the
pendulum we used were 0.2m, 0.4m, 0.6m and 0.8m. The differences in period for the pendulum
to complete 10 oscillations are caused by the length of the pendulum. The trend we observed in
this experiment is the period for the pendulum to complete 10 oscillations increases as the length
of the pendulum increases.
POST-LAB QUESTIONS

1. Is air resistance or friction systematic or random source of error ?

-Air resistance or friction is a systematic error.

2. Would air resistance causes the period measured from the experiment larger or
smaller than the theoretical value ?
-Yes, the air resistance will cause the period measured to be slightly different with the
theoretical value due to error occur.

3. What would be the period of a simple pendulum of length 1.0 m ?

-The value will be more than 1.793 s

4. What would be the period of a 1.0 m length pendulum if it were oscillating on the
moon ?
From the equation:

𝑙
T= 2𝜋 𝑔

Time for one complete oscillation is inversely proportional with gravity acceleration.
The gravity acceleration on the moon is 6 times weaker than earth. Thus the time
taken to complete one oscillation is increases
CONCLUSION
In this experiment, we can conclude that we have successfully achieve theobjective of this
experiment which is how to determined the value of gravitational acceleration by using a simple
pendulum and to investigate the relationship between length of the pendulum to the period of
motion in simple harmonic motion. By using the do-it-yourself simple pendulum, we measured
the time taken for 10 complete oscillation, 10T by using stopwatch. The procedure was repeated
for 3 times to get the average time value for every different length of the pendulum that we used
in this experiment. After that, for every average time value 10T, it will be divided by thetotal
oscillation which is 10 to get the average value for one completed oscillation, T. Then, we
squared this value, ! " . We draw a graph of ! " versus length of the pendulum l. From this graph,
we can identify the relation between ! " and the lengthof the pendulum. We draw a best line
graph that intercept at the (0,0) point and the relation between ! " is directly proportional with the
length of the pendulum. To calculate the gravitational acceleration, we calculated the gradient of
the best linecalculate the gravitational acceleration, we calculated the gradient of the best line
$% & $% &
graph and substitute into the formula ! " = (, where ) = , from this formula 4, " is
' '
divided with the gradient of the best line graph, ) to get the value of acceleration due to gravity
REFERENCES

1. Baylor University Guidelines for physic lab report https://www.baylor.edu/

2. Eduardo Dequilla 2018 What are the sources of errors in a simple pendulum
experiment and precautions to minimize them
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-sources-of-errors-in-a-simple-pendulum-
experiment-and-precautions-to-minimize-them

3. Dr. James E. Parks 2000 The Simple Pendulum

http://www.phys.utk.edu/labs/simplependulum.pdf

4. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica 2018 Periodic motion

https://www.britannica.com/science/periodic-motion