Physics report – Simple pendulum 1.j 2013/14 Hanne Martine G.

Ræstad

Simple Pendulum
Investi gati on of gravity and restoring force

Aim
To determine acceleration due to gravity by measuring the time period of a simple pendulum.

Theory
A simple pendulum is a weight suspended by a string or rod so
that it is allowed to swing freely. When the weight is swinging
back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm, it is
oscillating. The path from the equilibrium position (see
diagram) to the point B, to the point A, and back to the
equilibrium positing is called an oscillation.

In a pendulum motion, the energy of the bob is transferred

between potential and kinetic energy. At the points A and B
the bob has the most potential energy and no kinetic energy,
but the energy is then steadily transferred to kinetic energy
until the bob reaches the equilibrium position where it has
the most kinetic energy and no potential energy.

The force which pulls the bob back towards the equilibrium
position is called the restoring force.

In a pendulum motion, the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement of the object
directed opposite to the restoring force – as shown in the formula:

F α− y
Therefore the motion of a simple pendulum is called a simple harmonic motion.

The experiment was conducted by varying lengths (L) of the pendulum. A pendulum executes
periodic motion. A periodic motion is that which repeats after regular intervals of time. Hence, the
time period of a simple pendulum is determined by the formula:

L L – Length of pendulum
T =2 π
√ g
g – acceleration due to gravity
T – time period

Apparatus
Inextensible string Steel weight Ruler (1 m)

Stand Stopwatch (mobile phone) Clamp

Procedure
First, we assembled the simple pendulum. For this we used the clamp, the stand, the string and the
steel weight. The clamp was attached to the stand, which was placed on the edge of a table with the
clamp facing outwards. The string was tied to the steel weight on one end, while the other end was
led through the clamp and tied to the stand.

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Physics report – Simple pendulum 1.j 2013/14 Hanne Martine G. Ræstad

The length of the string from the point of suspension to the middle of the steel weight was measured
with a ruler. We began with the length of 90 cm.

The pendulum was raised so that the string would be at an approximate 45-degree angle from the
equilibrium position, then dropped. The time was measured from the moment when the pendulum
had completed one oscillation, and then 20 oscillations were measured. This was repeated three
times.

The reason for both the number of tries and the number of oscillations measured is accuracy.
Measuring 20 oscillations and dividing by 20 will give a more precise result than measuring 1
oscillation alone would. In the same way, taking the average of three attempts will give a more
precise result than only taking the result of one attempt.

The experiment was repeated seven times, using different lengths for the pendulum. The pendulum
was made shorter every time, so as to make it easier for us to get an accurate length using our
method of tying the string to the stand.

Data
Raw data
Length of Time for 20 Time for 20 Time for 20
pendulum (L) oscillations oscillations oscillations
[m] (t1) [s] (t2) [s] (t3) [s]
0.60 31.60 31.67 31.66
0.65 32.88 32.77 32.89
0.70 34.05 34.29 34.40
0.75 35.19 35.18 35.23
0.80 36.53 36.35 36.26
0.85 37.63 37.20 37.19
0.90 38.81 39.62 41.35

Processed data
Length of Mean/Average time Time for 1 oscillation Time for 1 oscillation
pendulum for 20 oscillations ( mean squared (T2) [s2]
(T) { } [s]
(L) [cm] t 1+t 2+t 3 20
) [s]
3
60 31.64 1.58 2.5
65 32.85 1.64 2.69
70 34.25 1.71 2.92
75 35.20 1.76 3.1
80 36.39 1.82 3.31
85 37.34 1.87 3.5
90 39.93 2 4
Looking back
on our formula for T

L
T =2 π
√ g L – Length of pendulum
We can rearrange it to isolate g, as finding g is the aim of this g – acceleration due to gravity
T – time period
experiment.

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Physics report – Simple pendulum 1.j 2013/14 Hanne Martine G. Ræstad

L
g=4 π 2 ×
T2
L
Temporarily looking away from the constant value of 4 π 2, we are left with the fraction .
T2
We can plot a graph using the information attained in the experiment. As L is the independent
variable, we will place the L-values on the x-axis. T 2 is then the dependent variable and will be placed
on the y-axis.

T2 L
The slope of the graph will then be , and to get 2 we will take the inverse of the slope. As the
L T
1
slope of the graph is 4.65, the inverse will be (= 0.215).
4.65
We can then reintroduce the constant 4 π 2 to the equation, which will now look like this

g=4 π 2 ×0.215
Calculating that, the result will be

g 8.488

Conclusion
The value calculated for acceleration due to gravity in our experiment is 8.488 m/s 2. The standard
value for acceleration due to gravity is 9.806 m/s 2.

Percentage error
We use this formula to calculate the percentage error of our experiment:

standard value−experimental value

× 100 %
standard value
9.806−8.488
Inserting the values, this will give ×100 % = 13.4%
9.806

There are many factors which could have influenced our results. First of all, the length of the string
might have varied slightly, either because of inaccurate measurement or any stretch which might
have lengthened the string. The angle which the pendulum was dropped from might also have varied
slightly, and the pendulum did most likely not swing in perfect simple harmonic motion the entire
time. The time is also likely to not have been measured perfectly, as it is very difficult to start and
stop the timer at precisely the right moment. A negligible difference might have been caused by
rounding off numbers to fewer decimals in the data and calculations, and friction and air resistance
slowing the pendulum down.

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