Introduction /9

and objectives
Methodology /9
Results /9
Discussions /9
Conclusions /9
References /9
Continuous /6
learning &
information
management
Total /60
Percentage /85%
SF0021

PRACTICAL PHYSICS II

LAB REPORT

EXPERIMENT 5 : DETERMINATION OF ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY

USING SIMPLE PENDULUM

TUTORIAL :7 GROUP NO. : 1

NAME MATRIC NO
IRDINA BALQIS BT AMEROL HAMZAH FS22110421
LIDYANA HENDRY FS22110404
ANGEL ANN TADIUS FS22110399
MARDIANA BT MOHAMAD IDAL FS22110423
MICHAEL MURPHY CHANG MING REN FS22160735
MUHAMMAD ‘AFIF DANIAL BIN MOHD FS22110427
SHAHIR

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 13/09/2022

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 21/09/2022

DEMONSTRATOR: MISS SITI SARAH JUNIAN

 DETERMINATION OF ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY USING SIMPLE
PENDULUM

Irdina Balqis binti Amerol Hamzah, Lidyana Hendry, Angel Ann Tadius, Mardiana binti
Mohamad Idal Michael Murphy Chang Ming Ren Muhammad ‘Afif Danial bin Mohd Shahir

Preparoty Center For Science and Technology, University Malaysia Sabah, Jalan
UMS,88400,Kota Kinabalu ,Sabah

Data Collected: 6 September 2022;Submitted : 13 September 2022

Tutorial ;7 Lab Demo : Siti Sarah Junian

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to determine the acceleration due to gravity by using a
simple pendulum.We used a simple pendulum at a different lengths.For the mass of the
metal sphere and the angle of release,we used constant mass and angle.Then we recorded
the time taken that it takes to make ten complete oscillations and divide the total time by
number oscillation of ten to get the period,T.The acceleration due to gravity then calculated
after all the data obtained .We also determine the acceleration due to gravity by simple
pendulum with different angle of release.The mass of metal sphere and the length of the
simple pendulum were kept constant .Then the period,T was obtained by dividing the period
for ten complete oscillation with ten.From this experiment ,we know that the period,T
increases as the length and the angle of release increases .

Keywords :simple pendulum; oscillations ;length ;period ;gravity

Objectives

In this experiment, there were three objectives. For objectives 1, we determined the
relationship between length and time period (T 2) by using a constant mass of pendulum.
Then,in objective 2,we determined the relationship between the angle of release, 𝜃 and time
period (T) by using a constant mass of pendulum.Last for objective 3, we should calculated
the acceleration due to gravity at a place.

Introduction

A pendulum is a body suspended from a fixed point so that it can swing back and forth
under the influence of gravity. (Britannica, 2017). As it is known, a simple pendulum
consists of a bob (mass), m, suspended at the end of a string or wire, length, L and hug at a
fixed pivot point. When a pendulum is set in motion, gravity causes a restoring force that
will accelerate it toward the center point, resulting in a back and forth swinging motion.
(Stacy, 2017). This rationalisation for this pendulum’s motion is related to Gallelio’s concept
of inertia and theory of falling objects. The Italian scientist Galileo first noted (c. 1583) the
constancy of a pendulum’s period by comparing the movement of a swinging lamp in a Pisa
cathedral with his pulse rate. (Britannica, 2017). Theoretically, period of oscillation of the
pendulum, T is independent of the mass of the pendulum, m, and the angle of displacement
of the pendulum. In this experiment, the pendulum length was varied with the initial angle
of displacement of the pendulum is constant to find the period of oscillation of the
pendulum. This was followed by the next experiment by using different angle of
displacement of pendulum with a constant length of the string to find its period of
oscillation. The accelaration of the pendulum due to the force of gravuty , g, was also
calculated.
Theory

A simple pendulum consists of a mass, m hanging from a string of length, L, and fixed at a
pivot point, P. When displaced to an initial angle and released, the pendulum will swing back
and forth with the periodic motion.

T₁₀ is the time period it takes to make 10 complete oscillations. To obtain the value of T₁₀, a
constant mass of a simple pendulum is released from a fixed angle, θ, and was left to swing
back and forth until 10 complete oscillations were completed. The time taken was recorded
from the start of the oscillations until the end. Hence, the time period it takes to make one
complete oscillation, T, is obtainable by dividing the time taken it takes to make 10 complete
oscillations by 10. Therefore, the formula is written as

T₁₀
𝑇=
10

By squaring the value of T, however, the objective of the first experiment that is to
determine the relationship between length and time period, T2 is obtainable.

Gravity is the main force acting upon a pendulum at any given time, creating the back-and-
forth motion of the swinging simple pendulum. The force of gravity always pulls the
pendulum downward, whether it is at rest or in motion. To calculate the acceleration due to
gravity, it was given that the time period for one complete oscillation, T is directly
proportional to 2π and the square root of l over g, where l is length, and g is the
gravitational acceleration. Therefore, the formula is written as

𝑙
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑔
Methodology

Figure 1: Simple pendulum

The simple pendulum is composed of a small spherical ball suspended by a long, light string
that was attached to a support stand. The length of the pendulum was adjusted to several
readings. Noted that the length of the simple pendulum is the distance from the point of
suspension to the center of the ball. The length of the string from the point of suspension to
the top of the ball was then measured using a meter rule. The pendulum was displaced
about 5° from its equilibrium point and was left to swing back and forth. The time taken for
the pendulum to make 10 complete oscillations was recorded. The total time taken for 10
complete oscillations of each length was divided by the number of oscillations, 10. After
repeating the experiment with several different lengths of string, the experiment was again
repeated with constant length, 50m, and the angle of release as the manipulated variable
Result

For objective 1,a total of 4 sets of data for each length was collected.The data was
tabulated in Table 1.

Table 1: Data collected with the relationship between length and time period (T2) by using
a constant mass of pendulum

Length,L Period for 10 complete Period,T= 𝑇10 /10 (s) T 2 (𝑆 2 )

(cm) oscillations,𝑇10 (s)
50 13.59 1.36 1.85
45 12.70 1.27 1.61
40 12.05 1.21 1.46
35 11.40 1.14 1.30
30 10.74 1.07 1.14
25 09.36 0.94 0.88
20 08.81 0.88 0.77
15 07.51 0.75 0.56

1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Figure 1: Graph of L (cm) against 𝑇 2 ,(𝑆 2 )

By differentiation of equation L ,it is easily shown that the gradient of 𝑇 2 is

𝑇
𝑇 2 =( 10
10 2
) (1)

From figure 1,we obtain

𝑇
T= 10
10
(2)

When length,L =15 cm, the period of complete oscillations, 𝑇10 = 7.51 s.

Slope the value into the formula that stated earlier.

Hence, T = 0.75 s. Then,to get the value of 𝑇 2 , the value of T need to square to get final
value which is 𝑇 2 =0.56 𝑠 2 .

The same calculation will be repeated for 7 times using different length,L (cm)
=20,25,30,35,40,45,50
For objective 2 , a total value of 3 sets of data for each different angle was collected. The
data was tabulated in Table 2.

Table 2: Data collected by determined the relationship between the angle of release ,𝜃 and
time period (T) by using a constant mass of pendulum.

Angle of release,𝜃 (°) Period for 10 complete Period,T=𝑇10 /10 (s)

oscillations ,𝑇10 (s)
15 13.93 1.39
20 14.19 1.42
25 14.28 1.43
30 14.43 1.44
35 14.53 1.45
40 14.64 1.46
45 14.71 1.47
50 15.25 1.53

1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Figure 2: Graph of 𝜃 (°) against 𝑇 (s)

From figure 2,we obtain
𝑇10
T= (1)
10

When angle of release ,𝜃 (°)=15 ,the period for 10 complete oscillations , 𝑇10 = 13.93 s

Slope the value into the formula that stated earlier.

Hence,

T=1.39 s (2)

The same calculation will be repeated for 7 times using different angle of release , 𝜃 (°)=
20,25,30,35,40,45,50

For objective 3, calculated the acceleration due to gravity at a place .

Use the equation 1,

𝒍
T=2𝜋√ (1)
𝒈

Devided new formula from equation 1 ,we obtain new equation

𝑇2 𝐿
= (2)
4𝜋 2 𝑔

Derived new formula from equation 1 to get gravitational acceleration formula,

4𝜋 2 𝐿
g= 𝑇2
(3)

Substitute the value length of the string from result objective 1 into the gravitational
acceleration formula which is g=10.67 m/s
4𝜋 2 𝐿
g= 𝑇2
(4)

4𝜋 2 (0.5)
g= 1.85

g= 10.67 m/s
Discussion

Objective 1 is about the relationship between length and time period, 𝑇 2 . The time taken
increases as the length of string increases. Based on the graph, it shows that the relation L
is directly proportional to 𝑇 2 .For objective 2, it is about the relationship between angle 𝜃
and time period (T). The bigger angle of release, the longer the time taken for 10 complete
oscillations. The graph shows the relation 𝜃 is increasing linearly to 𝑇 2 .

The experimental value of 𝑔𝑎𝑣𝑒 (10.67 m/𝑠 2 ) exceeded the theoretical value of acceleration
by 8.77% due to gravity (9.81 m/𝑠 2 ). This meant that the results of the experiment were
somewhat inaccurate.

This were caused by several factors such as air friction in the surrounding. Air friction
increases the time taken for 10 complete oscillations. Other than that, poor human reaction
time causes the time recorded to be higher. Due to these factors, it can cause error to the
reading. To avoid error in the experiment, some precautions need to be done. One of the
precautions is to switch off the fan to reduce air resistance produce in the surrounding of
experiment. To avoid parallax error by placing the eye such that the line of view is
perpendicular to the scale of the ruler. Next, the string should not be stretch while
measuring its length.

Conclusion

Based on the results, it is found that the period decreases as the length of pendulum
decreases which follows the theory conducted by scientists. It also proves that length of
pendulum was one of the factors that affect the period of oscillation. Other than that, the
angle of release also affect the period of ten complete oscillation. As the angle of release
increases, the period of ten complete oscillation also increases. This prove that gravitational
acceleration was behind this results. Furthermore, it is found gravitational acceleration value
achieved in the experiment was inaccurate with the constant value that is 9.81ms^-2 due to
surrounding factors.
References

Brainly User (2019) What I write about precautions of bar pendulum experiment?. brainly.in.
https://brainly.in/question/13536023

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, May 7). pendulum. Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/technology/pendulum

Daniel A. R. (2011) The Simple Pendulum. acs.psu.edu.

https://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/Demos/Pendulum/Pendula.html#:~:text=A%20simple%2
0pendulum%20consists%20of,and%20forth%20with%20periodic%20motion

Lapkang H. (2019) What are the best precautions for the expirament of simple pendulum
using a rethod stand. myschool.ng. https://myschool.ng/questions/view/academic-
questions/233614

Muhammad N. R. R., Nur F., Elnetthra F. E., Jackson C. H. W., Huzaikha, Siti N. (2022).
Physics Laboratory Manual & Workbook. UMS: Preparatory Center For Science And
Technology.

Jal L., Stacy (2017, April 24) Histrory about pendulum. https://sciencing.com/history-
pendulum-4965313.html
Appendix