The simple Pendulum

Goal of the Lab

The purposes of this experiment are: (1) to study the motion of a simple pendulum, (2) to study
simple harmonic motion, (3) to learn the definitions of period, frequency, and amplitude, (4) to
learn the relationships between the period, frequency, amplitude and length of a simple
pendulum and (5) to determine the acceleration due to gravity using the theory, results, and
analysis of this experiment.

Theory behind the experiment

A simple pendulum may be described ideally as a point mass suspended by a massless string
from some point about which it is allowed to swing back and forth in a place. A simple pendulum
can be approximated by a small metal sphere which has a small radius and a large mass when
compared relatively to the length and mass of the light string from which it is suspended. If a
pendulum is set in motion so that it swings back and forth, its motion will be periodic. The time
that it takes to make one complete oscillation is defined as the period T. Another useful quantity
used to describe periodic motion is the frequency of oscillation. The frequency f of the
oscillations is the number of oscillations that occur per unit time and is the inverse of the period,
f= 1/T. Similarly, the period is
the inverse of the frequency, T = 1/f. The maximum distance that the mass is displaced
from its equilibrium position is defined as the amplitude of the oscillation.
When a simple pendulum is displaced from its equilibrium position, there will be a restoring force
that moves the pendulum back towards its equilibrium position. As the motion of the pendulum
carries it past the equilibrium position, the restoring force changes its direction so that it is still
directed towards the equilibrium position. If the restoring force F is opposite and directly
proportional to the displacement × from the equilibrium position, so that it satisfies the
relationship

𝐹 = − 𝑘𝑥 (1)

then the motion of the pendulum will be simple harmonic motion and its period can be
calculated using the equation for the period of simple harmonic motion
 𝑚
𝑇 = 2π 𝑘
(2)

It can be shown that if the amplitude of the motion is kept small, Equation (2) will be satisfied
and the motion of a simple pendulum will be simple harmonic motion, and Equation (2) can be
used.

Figure 1. Diagram illustrating the restoring force for a simple pendulum.

The restoring force for a simple pendulum is supplied by the vector sum of the gravitational
force on the mass. mg, and the tension in the string, T. The magnitude of the restoring force
depends on the gravitational force and the displacement of the mass from the equilibrium
position. Consider Figure 1 where a mass m is suspended by a string of length land is displaced
from its equilibrium position by an angle 0 and a distance × along the arc through which the
mass moves. The gravitational force can be resolved into two components, one along the radial
direction, away from the point of suspension, and one along the arc in the direction that the
mass moves. The component of the gravitational force along the arc provides the restoring force
F and is given by

𝐹 = − 𝑚𝑔 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ (3)

where g is the acceleration of gravity, 0 is the angle the pendulum is displaced, and the minus
sign indicates that the force is opposite to the displacement. For small amplitudes where O is
small, sinO can be approximated by O measured in radians so that Equation (3) can be written
as
𝐹 = − 𝑚𝑔 θ. (4)

𝑥
The angle θ in radians is 𝑙
, the arc length divided by the length of the pendulum or the radius

of the circle in which the mass moves. The restoring force is then given by

𝑥
𝐹 = − 𝑚𝑔 𝑙
(5)

and is directly proportional to the displacement x and is in the form of Equation (1) where
𝑚𝑔
𝑘 = 𝑙
Substituting this value of 𝑘 into Equation (2), the period of a simple pendulum can be

found by

𝑚
𝑇 = 2π 𝑚𝑔 (6)
𝑙

And

𝑙
𝑇 = 2π 𝑔

Therefore, for small amplitudes the period of a simple pendulum depends only on its length and
the value of the acceleration due to gravity.

Materials
The apparatus for this experiment consists of a support stand, a small weight of 1kg with a 125
cm length of light string attached to it, a meter stick, a protector, and a timer. The apparatus is
shown in Figure 2.

Procedure
1. The simple pendulum is composed of a small weight suspended by a long, light string which
is attached to a support stand. The string should be approximately 120 cm long and should be
connected in a way that the string always pivots about the same point.
2. Prepare Excel Or google sheets spreadsheets so that the data can be stored. Adjust the
length of the pendulum to about .20 m. The length of the simple pendulum is the distance from
the point of suspension to the center of the weight. Measure the length of the pendulum 𝑙 by
measuring the distance from the point of attachment at the clamp to the center of the weight.

3. Displace the pendulum about 5° from its equilibrium position and let it swing back and forth.
Measure the total time that it takes to make 10 complete oscillations.
Record that time in your spreadsheet. Carry out a total of 5 trials per length.

4. Increase the length of the pendulum by about 0.20 m and repeat the measurements made in
the previous steps until the length increases to approximately 1.0 m.

5. Calculate the period of the oscillations for each length by dividing the total time by the number
of oscillations, 10. Record the values in the appropriate column of your data table.

6. Graph the period of the pendulum as a function of its length using the chart feature of Excel.
The length of the pendulum is the independent variable and should be plotted on the horizontal
axis or abscissa (x axis). The period is the dependent variable and should be plotted on the
vertical axis or ordinate (y axis).

7. Use the trendline feature to draw a smooth curve that best fits your data. To do this, from the
main menu, choose Chart and then Add Trendline .from the dropdown menu. This will bring up
an Add Trendline dialog window. From the Trend tab, choose Power from the Trend/Regression
type selections. Then click on the Options tab and select Display equations on the chart option.

8. Examine the power function equation that is associated with the trendline. Does it suggest the
relationship between period and length given by Equation (7)?

9. Examine your graph and notice that the change in the period per unit length, the slope of the
curve, decreases as the length increases. This indicates that the period increases with the
length at a rate less than a linear rate. The theory and Equation (7) predict that the period
depends on the square root of the length. If both sides of Equation 7 are squared then
 2
2 4π
𝑇 = 𝑔
𝑙 (8)

2
If the theory is correct, a graph of 𝑇 versus 𝑙 should result in a straight line.

10. Square the values of the period measured for each length of the pendulum and record
your results in the spreadsheet.

2
11. Use the chart feature again to graph the period squared, 𝑇 , as a function of the length of the
pendulum 1. The period squared is the dependent variable and should be plotted on the y axis.
The length is the independent variable and should be plotted on
the x axis

2
12. Examine your graph of 𝑇 versus 𝑙 and check to see if there is a linear relationship between
2
𝑇 and 𝑙 so that the data points lie along a line.

13. Use the trendline feature to perform a linear regression to find a straight line that best fits
your data points. This time from the Add Trendline dialog window. choose Linear from the
Trend/Regression type selections. Click on the Options tab and once again select the Display
equations on chart option. This should draw a straight line that best fits the data and should
display the equation for this straight line.

2 2
2 4π 2 4π
14. Equation (8), 𝑇 = 𝑔
𝑙 is of the form y-ax+b where y=𝑇 , a = 𝑔
, x=𝑙, and b=0.
2
A graph of 𝑇 versus 𝑙should therefore result in a straight line whose slope, a, is
2
4π
equal to 𝑔
From the equation for the trendline, record the value for the slope, a,
2
4π
and from the equation a= 𝑔
find g, the acceleration due to gravity.

15. Compare your result with the accepted value of the acceleration due to gravity
9.8 m/s?. Calculate the percent difference in your result and the accepted result.
% Difference = [(your result - accepted value/accepted value] × 100%
16. Using the accepted value of the acceleration due to gravity and Equation 7 calculate the
period of a simple pendulum whose length is equal to the longest length measured in Table 1.
Compare this theoretical result with the measured experimental result and calculate the percent
difference.
% Difference = [(Experimental Result - Theoretical Result) / Theoretical Result] × 100%.

17. The equation for the period of a simple period, Equation (7), was developed by assuming
that the amplitude is small. The range of amplitudes over which Equation(7) is valid is to be
determined by measuring the period of a simple pendulum with different amplitudes.

Part 2
18. Adjust the length of the pendulum to about 0.6 m. Measure the period of the pendulum when
it is displaced 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, 40°, 50°, and 60° from its equilibrium position. Make a
table to record the period T as a function of the amplitude A.

19. Using your data, make a graph of the period versus the amplitude.

20. Measure the length of the pendulum and use Equation (7) to calculate the period of the
pendulum. Add this theoretical point to your graph for the period with zero
Amplitude.

21. Examine your graph for the behavior of the period with amplitude. What conclusions can you
draw from your data regarding the range of amplitudes over which Equation
(7) valid?

Data

Part 1
First the data with length of the string and the time for 10 oscillations, with all the trials and the
uncertainty:
 Time (Seconds)

Uncertain
length (m) trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 trial 4 trial 5 Average ty

0.197 9.19 9.07 9.25 8.89 9.11 9.10 0.18

0.412 12.25 12.40 12.39 12.37 12.42 12.37 0.09

0.59 15.26 15.17 15.13 15.26 15.16 15.20 0.06

0.785 17.49 17.61 17.59 17.39 17.73 17.56 0.17

0.08
0.987 19.92 19.83 19.76 19.90 19.83 19.85

Now the time was divided by 10 to get the period:

Period (Seconds)

Uncertain
length (m) trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 trial 4 trial 5 Average ty

0.197 0.92 0.91 0.93 0.89 0.91 0.91 0.02

0.412 1.23 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24 0.01

0.59 1.53 1.52 1.51 1.53 1.52 1.52 0.01

0.785 1.75 1.76 1.76 1.74 1.77 1.76 0.02

0.987 1.99 1.98 1.98 1.99 1.98 1.98 0.01

And this is the graph of length(m) in the x axis and the average period(s) in the y axis
Now the table with the length with the period squared

(Period
length (m) (s))^2

0.197 0.83

0.412 1.53

0.59 2.31

0.785 3.08

0.987 3.94
And here is it’s graph, with the length(m) in the X axis and the Period squared in the Y axis

Part 2

Here is the table using a fixed length of 0.598 meters, showing how the angle interferes in the
time that it takes to do 10 oscillations

Time (Seconds)

Uncertant
angle (°) trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 trial 4 trial 5 Average y

5 15.26 15.34 15.26 15.38 15.48 15.34 0.1

10 15.32 15.45 15.36 15.22 15.29 15.33 0.1

15 15.46 15.36 15.24 15.40 15.43 15.38 0.1

20 15.61 15.74 15.43 15.47 15.44 15.54 0.2

25 15.57 15.50 15.54 15.53 15.64 15.56 0.1

30 15.63 15.54 15.71 15.57 15.63 15.62 0.1

40 15.64 15.70 15.86 15.88 15.69 15.75 0.1

50 16.11 15.92 16.22 16.04 15.91 16.04 0.2

60 16.33 16.41 16.40 16.38 16.51 16.41 0.1

Now the time divided by 10 to get the period

Period (Seconds)

Uncertant
angle (°) trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 trial 4 trial 5 Average y

5 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.53 0.01

10 1.53 1.55 1.54 1.52 1.53 1.53 0.01

15 1.55 1.54 1.52 1.54 1.54 1.54 0.01

20 1.56 1.57 1.54 1.55 1.54 1.55 0.02

25 1.56 1.55 1.55 1.55 1.56 1.56 0.01

30 1.56 1.55 1.57 1.56 1.56 1.56 0.01

40 1.56 1.57 1.59 1.59 1.57 1.58 0.01

50 1.61 1.59 1.62 1.60 1.59 1.60 0.02

60 1.63 1.64 1.64 1.64 1.65 1.64 0.01

Now the graph with the Amplitude in the X axis and the average period in the Y axis
Conclusion
It was possible to understand three main concepts of harmonic motion. First that period in this
scenario is the time taken to complete a full revolution, meaning the weight comes back to its
original position of release. The frequency in this scenario is the number of oscillations per
second. And the amplitude is the distance between the resting point and its maximum
displacement, in this scenario was the angle used. Looking at the data collected and the
previous physics knowledge it was possible to conclude that the frequency and period are
inversely proportional since the period is one over the frequency and vice versa. The length of
the simple pendulum when it increases causes the period to also increase, based on the data it
happens proportionally. When the Amplitude increases the period keeps the same, or with small
variations, meaning that the amplitude and period have no relation.

To understand better the experiment accuracy it is possible to calculate the value of g as it was
mentioned in step 14. From the graph of period squared and it’s length, the equation of the trend
line is y = 3.98*x - 0.0259 and the slope of this equation is 3.98, assuming that 3.98 is the value
2
4π
of a as mentioned in step 14 it is possible to formulate the equation 3. 98 = 𝑔
then g being

equal to 9.92. The real value of the force of gravity is 9.81. The percentage difference is 1.11.
Meaning that the results that were obtained are accurate to the real ones, since the calculation
of force by gravity was accurate. It was also mentioned that the line that best fits in the graph of
period squared and length should be a straight line, and visually it looks straight. That’s another
factor that implies that the results are accurate.

𝑙
In relation to how altering the amplitude will affect the period, in the formula 𝑇 = 2π 𝑔
(7)

It is shown that the period will not change if the amplitude changes since there is no relation
between them. In the graph of period and amplitude it is also shown that as the amplitude
changes the period is kept constant. Generating in the graph an almost perfect straight line to
the horizontal. It was possible to see a slight increase of period in the last result but they are
probably occurring because of human mistakes.

There are also some questions that can be answered with this experiment
1. How would the period of a simple pendulum be affected if it were located on the moon
instead of the earth? On the moon the force of gravity is 1.62 m/s, it is smaller than on the
𝑙
earth. Meaning that the period would be a bigger number since now in the formula 𝑇 = 2π 𝑔

, the force of gravity is smaller, then being divided by a smaller number.

2. What effect would the temperature have on the time kept by a pendulum clock if the
pendulum rod increases in Length with an increase in temperature? As the increase in
temperature generates an increase in the length of the clock rod, it means that the period would
also increase, making each time that the rod works slower.
3. What kind of graph would result if the period T were graphed as a function of the
square root of the length, 𝑙. if this graph would look like

2π
Would result in a straight line with a slope of 1.97, that is similar to the ideal slope of that is
𝑔

equal to 2

4. What effect does the mass of the ball have on the period of a simple pendulum?
What would be the effect of replacing the steel ball with a wooden ball, a lead ball, and a
ping pong ball of the same size? The mass of the ball has no relation with the period, if the
mass of the ball changes the period will be the same.

Evaluation
The lab in general had positive results and was really precise, but there are many areas of
improvement. First there are some systematic errors, the ruler that was used could be different
and substituted by one with smaller units. The stand that was being used is not the most
adequate since the place where the string was being held was not strong enough so probably in
the trials the length of the string was increased without noticing. The stand was also moving a
little bit during the oscillations but it was quickly fixed by using a paper support. There are also
the random errors, first the person that is pressing the timer to start and end, it might have a
small inaccuracy since humans can fail and miss the correct time. Another mistake is the person
that is holding the weight when realizing it can apply a small force that will interfere in the period
calculation. The third error could be that the length of the string was not being calculated
correctly since the pivot of the stand was difficult to identify. Those are the main errors, there are
other smaller ones that might have occurred without being noticed. In general the experiment
occurred well and all the answers were answered with the expected conclusion.

Bibliography
by Dr. James E. Parks
Department of Physics and Astronomy
401 Nielsen Physics Building
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1200