EXPERIMENT NO: 1

THE SIMPLE PENDULUM

DATE:___/___/20___

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AIM: To find the value of acceleration due to gravity using a simple pendulum.

APPARATUS: Given a bob attached to a mass less string, a meter scale, a stop clock and a stand

FORMULA:
L L L 1 4π
T = 2π ⟹ T = 4π ⟹ g = 4π ⟹ g = 4π ⟹ g=
g g T S S

PROCEDURE:

1. Set the Simple pendulum for a convenient length (say 40 cm) and calculate the time that it
takes to make 10 oscillations (10T, where T is the time period).
2. Care must be taken to ensure that the angle of oscillation from the mean position is as small
as possible. Care must also be taken in order to ensure that no initial velocity is given to
the pendulum. It must be allowed to fall freely from the displaced position.
3. After the time reading for 10T is taken, do not stop the oscillation.
4. Note down the value of time then, reset the watch and as the pendulum continues to
oscillate, take the value for 10 T once more. Note this down too in the tabular column.
5. Now, change the value of length (to say 60 cm) and repeat the whole experiment for 4 more
values of length. In each of the tabulated values, find T and T 2 and note it in the tabular
column.
6. Plot a graph of L versus T2 (L on the x axis and T2 on the y axis). It is expected to be a
straight line.
7. All the points plotted may not fall on a straight line so draw a LINE OF BEST FIT. (The
line of best fit may even be drawn in a manner that none of the points plotted falls exactly
on the line itself. This would still be the correct way of drawing the graph).
8. On the line of best fit, choose any two new points (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) and (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) and hence find the
slope of the line. Using the equation
∆y y −y 4π
𝑆= = =
∆x x −x g
9. Find the value of acceleration due to gravity from the equation given above
4π
g=
S

RESULT: The value of acceleration due to gravity was found to be 9.87 m/s 2

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OBSERVATIONS:

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