Liew Jin Ming

Physics Laboratory Report

Determining the acceleration due to gravity using a

pendulum
Aim
To investigate the acceleration due to gravity using a pendulum

Apparatus
The apparatus required are a retort stand with clamp, ruler, pendulum with string, and a stopwatch

Safety
-The retort stand must be secured to the bench to prevent it from falling over and hurting
someone or falling on their feet.
-Do not go near the pendulum when the experiment started to prevent the pendulum from
hitting the face and causing injuries

Variables
Independent variable: Length of the pendulum’s string

Dependent variable: Time taken for 1 complete oscillation

Control variable: Weight of the pendulum, Type of string

Method
The apparatus is set up as shown in the diagram. The length of the string is measured 10cm. Pull the
pendulum to a certain height and release. The stopwatch is started simultaneously. The time taken
for 5 complete oscillation is measured and recorded. The experiment is repeated 3 times. The
experiment is repeated with different length of the string 20cm, 30cm, 40cm, and 50cm.

Results

Length √ Length Time taken for 5 complete oscillation/s Average for 5 Average for 1
/m Repeat1 Repeat2 Repeat3 oscillation /s oscillation /s
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.10 0.32 3.38 3.83 3.48 3.56 0.71
0.20 0.45 4.73 4.69 4.58 4.67 0.93
0.30 0.55 5.69 5.49 5.79 5.66 1.13
0.40 0.63 6.79 6.53 6.59 6.64 1.33
0.50 0.71 7.28 7.13 7.37 7.26 1.45

Graph

T against √Length
1.6
1.4 f(x) = 2.04810613733036 x + 0.0170062791168724
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8

Calculation
√L
T =2 π
√g
T
=2.048
√L
2π
2.048=
√g
g=9.41ms-2

Units
-Length is m

-Time is s

-Gravitational acceleration is ms-2

Formula
T 2π
= =gradient of graph
√L √ g
Conclusion
When the length of the string increases, the time taken for I complete oscillation increases. The
value obtained is 9.41ms-2 while the real value is 9.81ms-2. The value is not accurate because the
timing of the oscillation is not consistent, hence the value differs.

Reliability
- The support may not be rigid.

-The measurement of the ruler may not be accurate.

-The stopwatch is not started immediately after the pendulum is released

Improvement
-Clamp the retort stand to prevent it from moving

-Make sure the eyes are perpendicular to the reading of the ruler

-Use wire which doesn’t stretch instead of string

-Repeat the experiment to obtain a consistent result

Hypothesis
-If the length of the string increases, then the time it will take for the pendulum to make one cycle
will increase as well

Sources
- String, S. (2020). Swinging on a String - Lesson. [online] TeachEngineering.org. Available at:
https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/cub_mechanics_lesson09 [Accessed 16 Feb. 2020].

- Pstcc.edu. (2020). New Page 1. [online] Available at:

http://www.pstcc.edu/departments/natural_behavioral_sciences/Web%20Physics/Experiment
%2004web.htm [Accessed 16 Feb. 2020].

- Cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com. (2020). [online] Available at:

https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/campuspress.yale.edu/dist/e/472/files/2015/06/Pendulum-Lab-
1hxxdxm.pdf [Accessed 16 Feb. 2020].

Another method
Investigating the effect of the length of a pendulum’s string on the time for the period of that
pendulum