REPORT WRITING.
TITLE: DETERMINING THE ACCELERATION OF GRAVITY – SIMPLE
PENDULUM
UNIT NAME: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES.
UNIT CODE: EME 2211.
COURSE: ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING.
DEPARTMENT: DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING.
COLLEGE: COLLEG OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY.
LECTURER: DR. ODHIAMBO.
STUDENT’S NAME: ABDIRIZAK ADEN MOHAMED.
REG NO: ENE212- 0218/2020
TITLE: DETERMINING OF ACCELERATION OF GRAVITY – SIMPLE PENDULUM.
OBJECTIVES/AIMS.
To determine the value of acceleration due to gravity, g.
INTRODUCTION/THEORY.
The ideal simple pendulum consists of a point mass suspended by a weightless string.
For a small displacement θ the restoring force acting on the point mass at P along the arc (x) is
F = - Mg sin θ = - Mg θ ( sin ce θ is small) = - Mg x/l
Hence the equation of motion of P is,
-Mg x/l – Mx
Or x + g/x . x = 0
The motion is thus simple harmonic, and the periodic, and the periodic time T is
T = 2π √(l/g)
The determination of g from the time of swing of a simple pendulum is unsatisfactory for the
following reasons:
• The ideal point of a mass cannot be realized in practice.
• The string is not weightless.
• During the motion of P the string is subject to varying tensions, and consequently errors are
introduced due to the accompanying flexing of the string. To overcome consequently errors are
introduced due to the accompanying flexing of the string.
The experimental determination of the formula for the simple pendulum provides an instructive
experiment for the student.
log T
A
Log e
APPARATUS USED.
During the experiment, the following apparatus have been used to carry out the experiment:
1. Simple pendulum bob made of lead.
2. Cotton thread of length one meter.
3. Supporting cork
4. Retort stand
5. Clamp
6. Meter rule
7. Stop watch.
METHODOLOGY.
The following steps and procedure was followed when carrying out the experiment with
maximum care:
1. The cork was securely clamped in position with the pendulum overhanging the bench.
2. The length of the pendulum (measured from the point where the cotton emerges from the
cork to the center of the bob) was adjusted by drawing the cotton through the cork.
3. The free end was secured on the clamp, the pendulum given a small displacement.
4. The time of 20 swings -measured against fixed mark on the bench was taken.
5. And the periodic time (T) was found (The reading was rejected if the swings became
elliptical)
6. This was repeated with different lengths (1) of the pendulum, and a graph was drawn
between T2 and l from which an average value of T2/l was obtained to determine g.
Support
String
Pendulum bob
GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION.
g = (4π2l)/T2
But from the graph,
l/T2 = OB/AB
Hence,
g = 4π2(OB / AB)
Therefore,
g = 4 x π2 x (0.90-0.55) / (3.54-2.15)
g = 9.94 ms-2
The theoretical value of acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 ms-2. It can be seen that the
experimental value obtained from this experiment is slightly higher than the theoretical value of
acceleration due to gravity. This is as result of some experimental errors made while carrying out
the experiment.
SOURCES OF ERRORS.
The following are some of the sources of errors that were encountered and caused the error in the
experimental value of the acceleration due to gravity.
1. human errors come in when measuring the period using a stopwatch. The reaction time of
the observer plays a significant error when starting the stopwatch and when stopping it.
2. The arc angle also introduces errors. As much as possible small angles must be used.
3. the friction between the swinging bob and the surrounding air is another source of error.
4. The precise measurement of the length of the pendulum is difficult to take by using
meter sticks or rulers.
5. The pendulum might have swung elliptically without being notices by anyone doing the
experiment.
REFERENCE.
1. Laboratory Experiment book, pg 4.
2. https://www.quora.com/sources-of-simple-pendulum-experiment.
3. https://byjus.com/acceleration-due-to-gravity/
