Chapter 7

MEASUREMENT OF TIME

EXPERIMENT A7
AIM
Using a simple pendulum, plot L-T and
second's pendulum uSing appropriate L-T graphs. Hence, find the effective lengtho
graph.
APPARATUs AND MATERIAL REQUIRED

A metallic (iron/brass) bob with a

hook, an iron stand with
long cotton thread, vernier callipers, stop-watch
a clamp, a split cork, a fine and strong
eraser, and a chalk piece.
a
or
stop-clock, a metre scale, graph paper, pencu,2m

DIAGRAM
Thread
Split cork pieces

A O
C

Fig.7.4 A simple pendulum and its effective length L.

THEORY
The oscillations of a simple pendulum are simple
harmonic because the acceleration of its
bob is
directly proportional to its
displacement from the
mean position and is always directed towards it.
For oscillations of small
amplitude, the time period of a simple pendulum is given by
T 21 L

Where L is the effective length of the pendulum and g is the acceleration due to gravity at the given
place.

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 PHYSCS 1
IAB MANUAL

T'xVI. or T
Clearly,
parabola.
LT. graph is a
line.
Los. T graph is a straight
PROCEDURE

and zero error of the given vernier callipers, With the hol.
1. Find the vernier constant Determine e vert
the diameter of the bob at least
three times. the mean
the .

callipers, measure

hence the radius of the bob.

diarmeter at
long and tie its one end to
fine and strong cotton thread about 2 the
m hot
2. Take a of the beh
3. Place the cotton thread on a metre scale in such a way that the top surface of the hoh t.
the thread at the iet
the scale and its hook lies on the scale. P'ut ink marks distances
on
of
100 cm, 110 em, 120 cm and 130 cm. On adding radius r of the bob to these di
of

ettective length of the pendulum in each case. distances, we

ge
4. Place the clamp stand on the table and pass the free end of the cotton thread thee
half-pieces of the split cork. Hold the split cork firmly in the clamp stand in such a gh t
way that thed
of the cork is at right angles to the edge of the table.
5. Adjust the height of the clamp so that the bob lies about 2 cm above the ground and the t
comes out from the two halves of the cork just at the 80 cm ink mark. With the help ofa dhal. thre
mark point O just below the cquilibrium position of the bob and draw line AOH about 10
parallel to the edge of the table and line COD perpendicular to AOB, as shown in Fig 774
6. Examine the given stop-watch/stop-clock. Find out the number of divisions into which a seccmd
been divided. Hence determine the least count of the given has
k

stop-watch/stop-clock.
7. Displace the bob from the mean
position O towards the extreme position A by 3 to 4 cm and release
ease
it gently that it starts vibrating in a vertical plane about the
so

the bob does not (i) spin about its own axis, or
equilibrium position O.Ensure tha
(in) move up and down while oscillating, z

(ii) revolve along an elliptic path about its mean position.

8. Allow the bob to oscillate for some time. When the bob
along A >0->B->0-A,
moves t

completes one oscillation. Start the stop-watch immediately when the bob reaches left extreme
position A and just begins to move towards right extreme
position B. Note the time when the bob
completes 20 to and fro motions from A to B and back to A.
Again find the time for 20 vibrations i
the same manner as before. Take the mean of these two
time readings. Dividing this time by 20, we ge
period T for the given length.
9. Now increase the
length of the
pendulum by 10 cm by adjusting the 90 cm ink mark of the thread
just at the lower edge of the cork. As in
the step 8, again find time for 20 vibrations twice and determin
mean time
period T.
10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 by adjusting thread at its 100 cm, 110
the lower edge of the cork and cm, 120 cm and 130 cm ink marks just at
determine time period T in each case.
11. Record your observations in a
tabular form as
observation. given below. Find the value of T tor
eacn
12. Choosing suitable scales for X- and Y-axes, plot L-T
Similarly, plot L-T graph by taking L along X-axis graph taking L along
and T2
X-axis and T along 1-as

two graphs. along Y-axis. Identify the shape of the

70
O B S E R V A T I O N S

1. For radius of the metallic bob

Vernier constant of the vernier

callipers = cm

Zero error (with proper sign) of the vernier callipers

() cm (i) cm (in) Cm

Mean zero error, e=. cm

Zero correction, c=-e= cm

Observed diameter

Main scale reading Coinciding vernier Vernier scale reading VSP

S.No. MSR +

(cm) scale division =nx VC d

(cm) (cm)
1.

2
3.

Mean observed diameter, do =

- cm

Mean corrected diameter, d =

do +C=. Cm

Mean radius of the bob, r= cm

2. For time period of the simple pendulum

Least count of the
stop-watch/stop-clock =. S

Length of Time for 20 oscillations t

(thread + hook) Length of pendulum Time
S.No. L =l+r period T
l = ST
(cm) (i) (i) Mean
(s)
(Cm) (s) (s) (s)
1. 80 cm

2 90 cm
3. 100 cm

4 110 cm
5. 120 cm
6. 130 cm

3. Plotting graphs

(i) L vs. T graph. From the recorded observations, plot a graph of L vs T, taking L along X-axis
and T along Y-axis. As shown in Fig. 7.5, we find that L-T graph is a parabolic curve,
convexing upwards.
(ii) L vs.T? graph. Plot a graph of L vs T, taking L along X-axis and T along Y-axis. As shown in
Fig. 7.6, LT graph is a straight line passing through the origin.

(ii) Length of second's pendulum from L-T* graph. A simple pendulum having time period
T 2 s is called a second's pendulum. In order to find its ettective length from LT graph,
 LAB MANUAL PHYSICS-XI

draw a horizontal line corresponding to T 2s*. It meets neets ththis

=

we
point P. From P, draw a perpendicular to the horizo axis meeting it line straight
ta
point Q.
gives the effective length of the second's pendulum. Usually the length of seco
This poier
comes out to be nearly 1 m.
enduhum
tvs. Tgraph Lvs. T graph
0 - 0 - 0 0 - 0
5.5

4.0
1.0
3.5

99.8Q
60 80 100 120 140 3.00 80 90 100 110 120 130
Length of pendulum L (cm) Length (cm)
Fig. 7.6 Graph of L vs. T?.
Fig.
7.5
Graph of Lvs. T.

CALCULATIONS

() Length of second's pendulum from the L-T graph =

-
cm

Theoretical value of of second's pendulum =

99.3 cm
length
Experimerntal value-Standard value
Percentage error =- x 100 =
Standard value

(i) Acceleration due to gravity at the given place,

1
g-4 4t? x- of17 =412x PO
Slope of L-T'graph
cms

RESULT
1. The graph of L versus T is a parabolic curve, convexing upwards. It indicates that T is not
proportional to L but T oc VL.
2. The graph of L versus T is a straight line. It indicates that L«T2
3. The effective length of second's pendulum from L-T graph is L Cm
Percentage error in Let.
4. The value of acceleration due to gravity at the given place is
Cms

PRECAUTIONS
1. The suspension thread should be thin, light, strong unspun cotton thread.
2. The lower faces of the two pieces of the split cork should lie at the same horizontal level and the cut
in the cork should be
perpendicular to the edge of the table.
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 Chapter 7 MEASUREMENT OF TIME

3. The split cork should be clamped in that iron stand may act
like a rigid supPOTt.
heavy iron stand so

4, The bob should be suspended close to the

ground.
5. The bob should be displaced gently from the that the bob
vertical plane without any spinning
mean position so
oscld
or up and down motion.
6. The anmplitude of oscillations should be small so that its motion is simple harmonic an the
expression T = 27 is valid.

7. The length of the pendulum must include the length of the hook and the radius of the bob.

8. The length of the pendulum should be changed in steps of 10 cm each time.

9. The counting of oscillations should be done carefully and time of oscillations must De ote
correctly.
10. For plotting L-T and L-T* graphs, at least six different lengths be taken and time for 20 oscillations
for each length should be noted twice.
11. The experiment should be performed in a corner where there is no air disturbance. Even the fans
should be switched off.
12. A stop-watch with least count of 0.1 s should be preferred over a stop-clock of least count 1 s.

SoURCES OF ERROR

1. The point of suspension may not be rigid.

2. The amplitude of vibrations may not be small.
3. The string used may not be inextensible. Then the elasticity of string will cause some error in the
effective length of the pendulum.
4. The stop watch may not have been started or stopped at proper moments.

5. Sometimes air currents cannot be completely eliminated. This may result in spinning and conical
motions of the bob, causing a twist of the thread. This causes an error in the time period.

6. Sometimes an error occurs in counting the number of vibrations.