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Lab:3 The Simple Pendulum

Introduction: A simple pendulum consists of a heavy mass (bob) suspended by a light weight string. If you displace the bob to one side and release it, then the period (T) is the time for the bob to return to the point of release (one cycle). The length of the pendulum (L) is the length of the string plus the radius of the bob. This lab exercise uses a simple pendulum to illustrate how one can learn something about natural phenomena by a combination of measurement and graphical analysis.

Purpose: to calculate the acceleration due to gravity (g). Materials: pendulum stand, string, mass, stopwatch, meter stick. Theory: The period T of a simple pendulum of length L is given by:

T=2

L g

(1)

By squaring both sides of the equation we get:

4 2 T = L g
2

(2)

Let y = T2 and x = L and m = 42/g, then equation (2) can be written as Y = m x which is an equation of a straight line passing through the origin with its slope equals m.

The International School of Elite Education Then, by plotting T2 on the y-axis against L on the x-axis, we get a straight line graph whose slope is 42/g. By calculating the slope of this graph, then determined using the relationship:

g can be

Procedure:

g = 42/slope

1. Assemble the pendulum stand and pendulum. 2. Adjust the length of the pendulum (L) to 0.50 m. 3. Pull back the bob 10 cm from the vertical. This will keep the amplitude constant. 4. Measure the time it takes the bob to make ten cycles (t10), and then calculate the period T by dividing t10 by 10. 5. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 for L = 0.60 m, 0.70 m, 0.80 m, 0.90 m and 1.0 m and fill the table shown below.
Length (L) Trial 1 0.5 m 0.6 m 0.7 m 0.8 m 0.9 m 1.0 m Time of 10 cycles (t10) Trial 2 Trial 3 Period(T) = Average Period2 (T2)

t10 / 10

Graphical Analysis:
1-

Plot T2 on the y-axis against L on the x-axis.

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2-Find the slope of the graph.

slope =

y 2 y1 = x 2 x1
Slope =

3-

Find g using the relationship:

g = 42/slope =

m/s2

The International School of Elite Education 4-Calculate the percentage error using the equation:

% error =
Conclusion:

9.81 g x 100 9.81