Determination of the Acceleration Due to Gravity and the Radius of Gyration

Using a Compound Pendulum

• Theory:

The compound pendulum is a rod and consists of a number of equidistance halls.

Let us consider that, the pendulum is suspended at a point at a distance h from the
center of gravity O. if the pendulum make a small vibration through a small angle 
then the restoring torque  is given by the relation:
𝜏 = −𝑚𝑔ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
But
𝑑2 𝜃
𝜏=𝐼
𝑑𝑡 2
where, I is the moment of inertia.
𝑑2 𝜃
∴𝐼 = −𝑚𝑔ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑑𝑡 2

𝑑2𝜃 𝑚𝑔ℎ
2
=− 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑑𝑡 𝐼
For small angle . 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ≈ 𝜃
𝑑2𝜃 𝑚𝑔ℎ
2
=− 𝜃
𝑑𝑡 𝐼
This equation represents a simple harmonic motion i.e.:
𝑚𝑔ℎ
𝜔2 =
𝐼
The periodic time:
𝐼
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑚𝑔ℎ
Using the parallel axis theorem,
𝐼 = 𝐼𝑂 + 𝑚ℎ2
Where, IO is the moment of inertia about the center of gravity and m is the rod mass
𝐼𝑂 = 𝑚𝑘 2
where k is the radius of gyration
𝑘2 + ℎ2
∴ 𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑔ℎ
This equation equivalent to simple pendulum equation
𝑙
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑔
where 𝑙 is called the length of the equivalent simple pendulum or the reduced length.
So, we can say that
 𝑘2 + ℎ2
𝑙=
ℎ
i.e. ℎ2 − 𝑙ℎ + 𝑘 2 = 0
The solutions of this equation are:
𝑙+√𝑙2 −4𝑘2 𝑙−√𝑙2 −4𝑘2
ℎ1 = & ℎ2 =
2 2
We note

𝑙 = ℎ1 + ℎ2
and
𝑘 2 = ℎ1 ∙ ℎ2

By plotting h as x-axis and T as y-axis, we get the shown curve and by plotting an
arbitrary straight line as shown intersects the curve at h1 and h2. We note that, at
minimum point in the curve, h1 = h2 = k1.
By plotting h2 as x-axis and hT2 as y-axis, we get straight line has a slope 42/g and
intersects the x-axis at –k32.

T hT 2

h1 K1 h2 h -k32 h2

• Apparatus:
Compound pendulum –ruler – stopwatch.

• Method:
1. Insert the needle in the first hall after the center of gravity of the pendulum.
2. Measure the distance h between this hall and the center of gravity.
3. Make a small displacement for the pendulum.
4. Measure the time t20 of 20 complete vibration.
5. Repeat the above steps for different values of h and record the corresponding time.
6. Calculate the period time of each complete oscillation T= t20/20
8. Plot h as x-axis and T as y-axis and draw a horizontal straight line intersects the
curve at two points.
10. from the curve determine 𝑘12 (at the minimum point of the curve), h1, and h2 then
calculate 𝑘22 = ℎ1 ∙ ℎ2 .
 11. Plot h2 as x-axis and hT2 as y-axis,
12. from the straight line determine g = 42/slope, and 𝑘32 from intersects with the x-
axis.
• Results:

h(cm) 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
t20(s)
T= t20/20(s)
T2 (s2)
h2(cm2)
hT2(cm.s2)

𝑘1 = cm & h1= cm & h2 = cm & 𝑘22 = cm2

Slope = s2/ cm & g = cm/s2 & 𝑘32 = cm2 & m= g

𝑘12 +𝑘22 +𝑘32

𝑘2 = = cm & I= g . cm2
3