Experiment 7: mechanic

In this experiment, you will determine the acceleration due to gravity, g.

a. Clamp a meter rule so that the graduated face is towards you.
b. Tie the longer thread on the clamped meter rule so that distance, d = 0.90m and the length
L1 of the thread is equal to 1.10m
c. Suspend a pendulum bob using the shorter thread, from midpoint C of AB and the length
L2 = 0.150m as, shown in figure 1

A d B

Metre rule

clamp
L1 2θ L1
2
2
C
LL22

d. Measure and record angle 2θ.

e. Displace the pendulum bob slightly so that it oscillated in a vertical plane normal to
ACB. Determine the time for 20 oscillations.
f. Calculate the period T
g. Repeat procedures (b) to (f) for d = 0.70m and L1 = 0.90m, d = 0.60m and L1 = 0.80m, d
= 0.50m, L1 = 0.70m, and d = 0.30m, L1 = 0.50m.
h. Tabulate your result including values of T2 and (L1cosθ + 2L2)
i. Plot a graph of T2 against (L1cosθ + 2L2)
j. Determine the slope, s, of the graph.
2
2π
s=
k. Calculate acceleration due to gravity, g, from the expression: g