EXPERIMENT -01

Aim: To determine aceleration due to gravity (g) by a compound pendulum

Apparatus: Bar pendulum with equidistance symmetrical holes, two small metal knife
edge wedges, telescope with cross-wires in the eye piece, stop watch, metre scale and
wooden prism with a metal edge.

Formula :
T2
where Tis periodic time of the pendulum,
k is radius of gyration,
Lis length of an equivalent simple pendulum.
Procedure:1 Balance the bar and mark its c.g. at G.
knile
2. Insert the metal knife-edge wedge in the first edge
e kde edg0
hole in the bar as shown, and place the wedge
on the support S,S, so that the bar can round
S

3. Focus the eye piece of the telescope on the cross Glass plale
wires by puling the eye-piece till the cross-wires
are distinctly visible and then rotate the collar
of the tube, till the cross-wire from an x.Now
focus the telescope on thè rod from about one
meter distance and see that the point of
intersection of the crosswires conicides with the
line AB
M. In order to counter balance the C.G. of bar
pendulum, insert another similar metal wedge
symmetrically on other side, in lower lst hole.
knite

5. Displace the bar slighty and It will begin to Bdg

vibrate.
6. Note the time for 20 oscillation and also measure
th¹ length from the point Gupto the bottom of Cross
wire
the first hole.
7. Now replace the wedge in hÍle 2,3... and note
the times for 20 vibrations in every case and Fig, 1
 2 Practical PhySICS

measure the corresponding distances from G in every case.

8. When the middle point of the rod is passed, the rod will turn reverse so that side
B is now on the top. The distances should now be measured from the side of the
hole which is towards A, upto G.
9. Plot a curve between length and the corresponding time for one vibration of the
bar plotting in along Y-axis.
10. Draw avertical line through G,the C.G.. of the rod. Draw another line ABCD
parallel to the axis of length. The length of the equivalent simple pendulum,
2
L=l+AC or BD.
AG=land GC=k* |l.being the centre of oscillation. Similarly GD=l and GB=k/I
being the centre of oscillation. g=4rL/T' where T= time at G Y-axis.
11. Draw anoher line A'BC'D' and get another value for'g.
See that the knife-edge metal wedges are always placed symmetrically with respect
to C.G..

Observation : Least count of stop watch =...s

Ver. const. of callipers =...cm.
Table for period T:
Discription No. Distance from Time for 20 vibrations Tsecond
G cm in seconds
1. For the holes above G. 1
2
3

|2. For the holes beloew G. 1

2
3
 Practical Physics: 3
Graph

Distance C.G. Distance from C.G.

C.G

Fig. 2

Arbitary calculations : L=+8D72+768 =77 cm.(say)

2 2

T=1.75 s.say)

Calculations:
4zL_ 4rx77
T² (1:75)
g=992.8cm/s =9.928m /s?

Result : Açceleration due to gravity =......n/5

Precautigns:
1, Distances are to be measured from G.G.
2. Times should be noted with the help of a good stop-watch using a telescope. aA
vibration should be counted whenever the line on the bar crosses the intersection
of the cross-wires in the telescope, to the right [Fig.1].
3. Smooth and good-sized curves should be drawn.
4. Amplitude of osçillation must be very small.