Experiment no 13

To Study and Investigate the Time Period of a Simple Pendulum

Objective: To understand the concept of measuring the time period of simple pendulum.

Apparatus:

 A stand for hanging pendulum assembly

 A scale mounted on stand
 A stopwatch/Digital Timer, A Vernier Caliper
 Bob of multiple weights and sizes
 A String

Introduction:

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 is 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 = l/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 x 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  2 (2)
k

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.

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 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 l and is displaced
from its equilibrium position by an angle θ and a distance x 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, θ is the angle the pendulum is displaced, and the minus
sign indicates that the force is opposite to the displacement. For small amplitudes where θ is
small, sinθ can be approximated by θ measured in radians so that Equation (3) can be written
as

F = - mg θ (4)

The angle θ in radians is x/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 (5)
𝒍

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

𝒎
𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅√ (6)
(𝒎𝒈/𝒍)

And

𝒍
𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅√𝒈 (7)

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

PROCEDURE :

1. The simple pendulum is composed of a small spherical ball suspended by a long, light
string which is attached to a support stand by a string clamp. The string should be
approximately 500 cm long and should be clamped by the string clamp between the two
flat pieces of metal so that the string always pivots about the same point.

Figure 2 Apparatus for simple pendulum.

2. Use a vernier caliper to measure the diameter d of the spherical ball and from this
calculate its radius r. Record the values of the diameter and radius in centimeters.

3. Prepare an Excel spreadsheet like the example shown in Figure 3. Adjust the length of
the pendulum to about 150 cm. The length of the simple pendulum is the distance from
the point of suspension to the center of the ball. Measure the length of the string ls from
the point of suspension to the top of the ball using a meter stick. Make the following
table and record this value for the length of the string. Add the radius of the ball to the
string length ls and record that value as the length of the pendulum l = lr + r .

4. Displace the pendulum about 10º from its equilibrium position and let it swing back
and forth. Measure the total time that it takes to make 50 complete oscillations. Record
that time in your spreadsheet.

5. Increase the length of the pendulum by about 15 cm and repeat the measurements made
in the previous steps until the length increases to approximately 300 cm.

6. Calculate the period of the oscillations for each length by dividing the total time by the
number of oscillations, 50. Record the values in the appropriate column of your data
table.

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7. 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).

Figure 3 Example of Excel

spreadsheet for recording
and analyzing data.

8. 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 a 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 chart option.

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

10. 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

(8)

If the theory is correct, a graph of T2 versus l should result in a straight line

11. Square the values of the period measured for each length of the pendulum and record
your results in the spreadsheet.
12. Use the chart feature again to graph the period squared, T2 , as a function of the length
of the pendulum l . 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.

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13. Examine your graph of T2 versus l and check to see if there is a linear relationship
between T2 and l so that the data points lie along a line.

14. 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.

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

16. Compare your result with the accepted value of the acceleration due to gravity 9.8 m/s2.
Calculate the percent difference in your result and the accepted result.

% Difference = [(your result - accepted value)/accepted value] x 100%

17. 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] x 100%.

18. 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.

19. 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°, and 30° from its equilibrium position. Make
a table to record the period T as a function of the amplitude A.

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

21. 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.

22. 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) is valid?

23. Repeat the above mentioned steps for two different weights pendulum bobs.

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Questions :
1. How would the period of a simple pendulum be affected if it were located on the moon
instead of the earth?

2. 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?

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 Lab Exercise and Summary
Summary should cover Introduction, Procedure, Data Analysis and Evaluation.

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Student’s Signature: ________________ Date: ________________

135
 LABORATORY SKILLS ASSESMENT (Psychomotor)

Total Marks: 100

Criteria Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Score

(Max Marks) 0% ≤ S < 50% 50% ≤ S< 70% 70% ≤ S< 90% 90%≤ S ≤100% (S)
Procedural Selects Selects and Selects and applies Selects and
Awareness inappropriate applies the appropriate applies
(20) skills and/or appropriate skills strategies and/or appropriate
strategies and/or strategies skills specific to strategies and/or
required by the required by the the task without skills specific to
task task with some significant errors the task without
errors any error
Practical Makes several Makes few Makes some non- Applies the
Implementation critical errors in critical errors in critical errors in procedural
(30) applying applying applying knowledge in
procedural procedural procedural perfect ways
knowledge knowledge knowledge
Safety Requires Requires some Follows safety Routinely follows
(10) constant reminders to procedures with safety procedures
reminders to follow safety only minimal
follow safety procedures reminders
procedures
Use of Uses tools, Uses tools, Uses tools, Uses tools,
Tool/Equipment equipment and equipment and equipment and equipment and
(20) materials with materials with materials with materials with a
limited some competence considerable high degree of
competence competence competence
Participation Shows little Demonstrates Demonstrates Actively helps to
to Achieve commitment to commitment to commitment to identify group
Group Goals group goals and group goals, but group goals and goals and works
(10) fails to perform has difficulty carries out effectively to
assigned roles performing assigned roles meet them in all
assigned roles effectively roles assumed
Interpersonal Rarely interacts Interacts with Interacts with all Interacts
Skills in positively other group group members positively with all
Group Work within a group, members if spontaneously group members
(10) even with prompted and encourages
prompting such interaction in
others

Marks Obtained

Instructor’s Signature: ________________ Date: ________________

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 LABORATORY SKILLS ASSESMENT (Affective)
Total Marks: 40

Criteria Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Score

(Max. Marks) 0% ≤ S < 50% 50% ≤ S < 70% 70% ≤ S < 90% 90% ≤ S ≤ 100% (S)

Introduction Very little Introduction is Introduction is Introduction complete

(5) background brief with some nearly complete, and well-written;
information minor mistakes missing some minor provides all necessary
provided or points background principles
information is for the experiment
incorrect
Procedure Many stages of Many stages of The procedure could The procedure is well
(5) the procedure are the procedure be more efficiently designed and all stages
not entered on are entered on designed but most of the procedure are
the lab report. the lab report. stages of the entered on the lab
procedure are report.
entered on the lab
report.
Data Record Data is brief and Data provides Data is almost Data is complete and
(10) missing some significant complete but has relevant. Tables with
significant pieces information and some minor units are provided.
of information. has few critical mistakes. Graphs are labeled. All
mistakes. questions are answered
correctly.
Data Analysis Data is presented Data is Data is presented in Data are presented in
(10) in very unclear presented in ways (charts, tables, ways (charts, tables,
manner. Error ways (charts, graphs) that can be graphs) that best
analysis is not tables, graphs) understood and facilitate understanding
included. that are not clear interpreted. Error and interpretation.
enough. Error analysis is included. Error analysis is
analysis is included.
included.
Report Report contains Report is Report is well Report is well
Quality many errors. somewhat organized and organized and cohesive
(10) organized with cohesive but and contains no
some spelling or contains some grammatical errors.
grammatical grammatical errors. Presentation seems
errors. polished.

Marks Obtained

LABORATORY SKILLS ASSESSMENT (Cognitive)

Total Marks: 10
(If any)

Marks Obtained

Instructor’s Signature: ________________ Date: ________________

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