SP014 Physics 1 Laboratory Manual

Experiment #4 – Determination of Acceleration due to Gravity by

Compound Pendulum Method

Aims
 To determine the value of g by method of timing the oscillatory motion of a rigid body in
the form of a straight rod (compound pendulum).

Material and Apparatus

i. Plastic straw (~20cm),
ii. Sewing needle (~0.5mm diameter),
iii. Fine sand,
iv. Cork with 2 pins spaced 1cm apart,
v. Stand and clamp,
vi. Meter ruler,
vii. Corks pads,
viii. Stop watch and
ix. Cellophane tape.

Procedure
1. Grip the cork in a clamp about 30 cm above the bench, making sure that the plane of the
supporting pins is horizontal.
2. Seal one end of the plastic drinking straw with cellophane tape and then pour in iron
fillings from the opposite end, until fully filled. Wipe the outer wall clean and seal up
this end with cellophane tape. You now have a solid cylindrical rod.
3. Measure the length, a, of the straw and determine the position of its center of gravity
(c.g.).
4. Push the fine needle through the straw at right angles to its axis and at a distance (l) of
1.0cm from c.g. of the straw.
5. Using the needle as pivot, support the straw on pins. Displace the straw slightly from
vertical position to induce oscillation in a vertical plane.
6. Obtain the time, t for 20 oscillations and hence compute the frequency, f in Hz.
7. Repeat determination of f for l = 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm, 2.5 cm, 3.5 cm, 5.0 cm and 7.0 cm.
l
8. Plot f2 against 2 and determine the slope of your graph.
a
l 2

12
9. Calculate the g in cms-2. Convert g from cms-2 to ms-2. Gravitational acceleration, g, is
given by g = 42 x (slope).

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SP014 Physics 1 Laboratory Manual

Cork

Fine needle

Straw

Direction of
oscillation

Data and Calculation

a =  cm
2
a
=  cm2
12

l
cm-1
l cm t s f Hz f 
2
s -2
l 
2
cm 2
a 2
l2
12

Discussion
1. Determine the deviation error % between the experiment g and the standard value of g
(9.81ms-2).
2. Discuss the factors that contribute to the calculated deviation error and how to minimize the
effect from each factor.

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