Experiment on Acceleration of Falling Bodies

Problem:

Materials:
 Spherical bob or washers
 Support for pendulum or iron stand
 1 ½ meter light string

Procedure:
1. Attach the light string to the pendulum(washer) and suspend it from
an iron stand or a suitable support. Measure the length (L) from the
point of suspension to the center of the bob(washer). Make the
initial length about 120 cm. Now set the bob(washer) oscillating
through a small angle 10 to 15 degrees from the vertical position.
2. Determine the time required for 10 complete vibrations. Repeat the
procedure using different lengths such as 100 cm, 81cm, 64cm, 36
cm. Record the time for each length in the table.
3. Find the period T, the time for one complete vibration, then
calculate T2 and enter the result in the table.
4. Plot L (cm) vs T2 (s2)

Observations:
 A. Data and Results
LENGTH (L) Time for 10 Time of One
(cm) complete Cycle Period2
vibration(s) Period T2 in sec2
T = s/10
100 cm
81 cm
64 cm
36 cm
25 cm

Guide questions:
1. Compare the period of the pendulum 100 cm long to 25 cm long.

2. How does the period of a pendulum vary with the length. How
did you verify this relationship?

3. How could a pendulum be used to find the value of acceleration

of falling bodies?

4. Compare the experimental value of acceleration of falling bodies

with the accepted value.
Conclusion:
Application:
1. Why does the acceleration of gravity vary from one to another on
the earth’s surface?

2. How many times does the period of the pendulum increase or

decrease when its length in increased four times?

3. Where will a pendulum vibrate faster, at North Pole or at the

equator? Why?