THE SIMPLE PENDULUM
Objective:
Determination of the acceleration due to gravity by using a simple pendulum
The theory
long string of length 𝓵 cm whose other end is
• A simple pendulum is a small bob to the end of a
fixed, see Fig (1).
• When it is displaced with a small angle from
its equilibrium position as in Fig (2), it executes
simple harmonic motion (S.H.M).
• The force acting on the bob are the force (Te)
exerted by the string and the gravitational force
always acts toward = 0 opposite the
displacement of the bob from the lowest
position.
Therefore, the tangential is a restoring force and we can apply, Newton's second law for
motion in the tangential:
Where, y is the bob position and the negative sign (-) indicates that the tangential force
acts toward the equilibrium position. From Figure (2) we have:
where 𝑟 the radius of the bob. Then equation (1) reduces to
Which can be rewritten as
Now we have an expression that has the same form as equation of S.H.M
where 𝜔 is the angular frequency
Comparing equation (2) and (3) we obtain
The period of motion is:
By squaring both sides of equation (5) we get
or simply
Where ℓ is the length of the string from suspending point surface of the ball, r is the radius of the
ball. Eq. (8) represents a relation of straight line (slope = g /4π2 ) from which we can determine
(g) and the intersection of the straight with the y-axis is radius of the ball (r), see fig. (3).
Apparatus:
Light metallic ball – metric ruler – stopwatch – light string.
Method :
1- Use the Vernier caliper to measure the diameter of the bob d and from this calculate its
2- Measure the length of the string 𝑙 from the point of suspension p to the top of the bob using
radius r.
a meter stick then find the effective length of the pendulum L and write it down.
3- Give a small displacement to the pendulum bob to one side from its mean position and
allow it to swing.
4- Start the stopwatch and measure the time for 10 complete oscillations.
5- Change the length of the pendulum and record time for 10 complete oscillations.
6- Repeat the previous step several times.
7- Tabulate your results.
8- Plot a graph between ℓ as x-axis and as y-axis as shown in Fig (3).
9- Determine the slope, then calculate g and the intersection of the straight line with the y- axis
represents radius of the bob (r).
Results
