PHYSICS PROJECT

“FINDING OUT THE EFFECTIVE

LENGTH OF A SIMPLE
PENDULUM”

NAME: Anish
CLASS: XI
SECTION: B
ROLL NO.: 20
SUBJECT: PHYSICS
‘FI
ND
IN
G
TH
E
EF
 FE
INTR
A simple pendulum ideally consists of a small heavy bob
attached to aODU
rigid support by means of a light
inextensible string. When we speak of the motion of the
CTIO
simple pendulum, we refer to the oscillations it
performs, when the bob is taken to a height and
N
released. Further, with reference to the above kind of
motion, we define amplitude, time-period, and
frequency as follows:

AMPLITUDE: The amplitude of a simple pendulum is

defined as the maximum angular deviation from the
mean position of the bob.
OSCILLATIONS: If the pendulum moves from one
extreme position to the other and back to the first it is
said to have performed one oscillation.
TIME PERIOD: The time period of the simple pendulum
is defined as the time required by the pendulum to
complete one oscillation.
FREQUENCY: The frequency of the simple pendulum is
defined as the number of oscillations performed per unit
time.
 MATE
RIAL
 A CLAMP WITH STAND
 A SPLITSCORK
REQ
THREAD
 BOB
UIRE
 VERNIER CALLIPERS
 STOP CLOCK/WATCH
 METRED SCALE
A PIECE OF CHALK
 THEO
SIMPLE PENDULUM: An ideal simple pendulum
consists of a heavy point mass (called bob) tied to one
end of a perfectly in extensible, flexible and weightless
string. There is no ideal simple pendulum. In practice, we
make a simple pendulum by tying a metallic spherical
bob to a fine cotton stitching thread.

LENGTH OF SIMPLE PENDULUM: The distance

between the point of suspension of the pendulum and its
centre of gravity is called the length of the pendulum; it
is represented by letter ‘l’.
l= (length of thread) + (length of hook of bob) + (mean radius of bob)
I.e. l= l’ + h + r

TIME PERIOD OF THE SIMPLE PENDULUM:

Time taken by the bob of the simple pendulum to make
one complete vibration, is called the time period of the
simple pendulum. It is represented by the symbol T.
The time period is given by the formula,
√
T =2 π
l
g
2
∨T =4 π()
2 l
g
2 T2g
∨l = 2
4π
Knowing the value of T and g, l can be calculated.

PROC
 EDU


Find the vernier constant and zero error of the vernier

callipers and record it.
 Determine the mean diameter of the spherical bob
Find the mean radius (r) of the bob.
 Find the length h of the hook attached to the bob.
 Take a cotton thread about 2 metres long and tie its
one end with the hook.
 Put ink marks, M1, M2, M3, on the thread as distance
of 80 cm, 90 cm, 100 cm, 110 cm, 120 cm, from the
centre of gravity of the bob. These distances give
effective length (l) of the simple pendulum.
 Pass the thread through the two split parts of a cork
with the thread coming out just from 80 cm mark.
 Fix the clamp in a stand kept on a table at such a
height that the bob is above the laboratory floor.
 Mark a point A on the floor just below the position of
bob at rest (mean position).
 Find the least count and the zero error of the stop
clock/watch. Bring its hands at zero position.
 Move the bob by hand to over position B on the right
of A and leave. See that the bob returns over line BC
without spinning.
 When the bob returns from C to A and starts moving
to right of A, start the stop clock/ watch and count
zero.
 The bob goes towards B to right extreme, returns
from right extreme and goes to-wards C to left
extreme. When bob crosses A from towards C, count
one.
 In this way count up to 19. Just when 20th vibration
is completed, count 20 and at once stop the stop
clock/watch.
 Find total time noting positions of both the hands of
the clock/watch. This time is time for twenty
vibrations.
 Move the clamp up by 10 cm.
 Loose the cork pieces and pull the thread out to
increase its length by 10 cm. Now effective length of
pendulum becomes 90 cm. Bob will be again 2 cm
above the laboratory floor.
 Repeat the steps to take observations each for
lengths 90 cm, 100 cm, 110 cm, 120 cm and 130 cm.
 Record all the observations.
 OBSE
RVA
1.  Vernier constant of vernier callipers (V.C.) = 0.01cm
Zero error (e): (i) 0cm, (ii) 0cm, (iii) 0cm
TION(c) = – e = 0cm
Mean zero error, (e) = 0cm
Mean zero correction
Observed diameter of the bob:
(i) 2.40cm, (ii) 2.40cm, (iii) 2.40cm.
Mean observed diameter, d0 =2.40cm
Mean corrected diameter, d=d0+c= 2.40cm
Mean radius of the bob, r=d/2= 1.2cm
Length of hook of the bob, h=0.35cm

2.  Least count of stop clock/watch = 0.01s

Zero error of stop clock/watch = 0s
Zero correction of stop clock/watch = 0s

3. Table for length (l) and time (T):

TABLE-1
SL.NO. LENGTH (cm) MEAN ‘t’ TIME T2
2
THREAD PENDULUM (seconds) PERIOD (sec)
l l=l’+r+h T=t/20

1. 78.4 80.0 36 1.8 3.24

2. 88.4 90.0 38 1.9 3.61
3. 98.4 100.0 40 2.0 4.00
4. 108.4 110.0 42 2.1 4.41
5. 118.4 120.0 44 2.2 4.84
 L ‘vs.’
2
T
L 'vs.' T2
6
GRA
5
PH
T2 (sec)2  4.84

4.41

4 4

3.61

3.24
3

0
LENGTH
80.0cm 90.0cm OF 100.0cm 110.0cm 120.0cm

THE
The graph is a straight line because,
PENDULUM

2
T =2 π
l
√ (L) T
, so,
g
(cm)
2
is proportional to l.
For T =4, l=100cm. Hence, for Second’s Pendulum (T=2secs),
length (l) =100cm.

PREC
Thread should be strong, weightless and in extensible.
Point of suspension should be fixed in a rigid support.
Lower faces of split cork should be in same level.
Splitting should be perpendicular to the plane of
vibration of the pendulum.
Amplitude should be small to have sin 0 = 0
The bob should move along a straight line.
The bob should not spin during vibration.
Place of experiment should be free from disturbances
of building vibrations or air current.
Laboratory fan should be switched off.
Length of pendulum should include length of hook and
radius of bob.
Counting should be proper and started from zero.
Clock/watch should be accurate.
Length of pendulum should be increased in steps of 10
cm to bring appreciable change in time period.
Metre scale used should be accurate.