EXPERIMENT NO.

7
SIMPLE PENDULUM

Aim: To find the acceleration due to gravity at the place using a simple pendulum and
plotting a graph between l and T2

Apparatus: A simple pendulum, stop watch, meter scale.

Theory: A simple pendulum is made by tying a metallic bob to a fine thread.

Time period of a simple pendulum is given by :

𝒍
𝑻 = 𝟐 l – length of the pendulum
𝒈
T – Time period.
𝟒 𝝅𝟐 𝒍
𝒈=
𝑻𝟐

Procedure:

1. Take the cotton thread and tie its one end to the bob
2. Pass the thread through the two split parts of the cork with the thread coming
out just 40 cm
3. Tighten the two halves of the cork between the clamp.
4. Fix the clamp in a stand kept on a table at such a height that the bob doesn’t
touch anywhere while swinging.
5. Find the least count & zero error of the stop watch.
6. Find the time taken for 20 oscillations and thus find the time taken for 1
oscillation
7. Repeat the experiment for different lengths, say 50cm, 60cm, 70cm & 80 cm.
8. Plot a graph between the length (l) and square of the time period (T2).
9. From the graph, find the value of l/T2. Substitute the value in equation (2) and
find the value of g

Result: The acceleration due to gravity at the place is m/s2

Precautions: i) The thread should be weightless and inextensible.

ii) Care should be taken while measuring the time for 20 oscillations

Sources of Error: i) The bob may spin while oscillating

ii) The stop watch may be inaccurate.
 T2

Observations :

Time for 1
Time for 20 T2
Sr. No Length (l) (cm) Oscillation (T)
Oscillations (s) (s2)
(s)
1 40
2 50
3 60
4 70
5 80

𝒍
From the graph, = ms-2
𝑻𝟐

Calculations :

𝟒 𝝅𝟐 𝒍
𝒈=
𝑻𝟐