HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Practical

Using a Pendulum to determine G

Aim:
To calculate the rate of acceleration due to gravity by investigating the
gravitational effects on the oscillatory motion of an average pendulum.
Background:
When a pendulum swings with a small angle, the mass on the end performs a
good approximation of the back-&forth motion (simple harmonic motion) the
period of the pendulum is the time taken to complete one single back and forth
motion. This depends on just two variables length of the string and the rate of
acceleration due to gravity. The mass has a very minute or no affect at all. The
formula to find a period is:

Where T- is period (s) i.e. time for 1 oscillation

l - is length (m) of the pendulum
g-is acceleration (m/s2 )due to gravity
Apparatus:

Retort Stand
Clamp
Boss Head
String 1- meter
Mass Carrier

Mass 50g
Metre Rule
Stopwatch
Large Protractor

Method:
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram below.

Note: <15 to avoid angular displacement.

Clamp
String

Retort Stand

Mass carrier
and Mass

Counter Weight

HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Practical

2. Collect a mass carrier and tie it strongly to a string.

3. Pick up the mass carries by the string and have another member of the group
carefully measure 1 of the string starting from the base of the mass carrier.
4. Record the length of the pendulum. Attach the string to the clamp really
tightly and ensure that you still have 1 meter from the top to the bottom of the
string.
5. Ensure that the vicinity is free of any obstructions to the swinging pendulum.
6. If necessary place a g-clamp or excess weight on the retort stand to stop the
retort stand from absorbing the motion energy of the pendulum by vibrating.
7. Reset all stop watches and gently move the
pendulum from equilibrium to a measured
distance of 15 or less using a large protractor.
Ensure the angle of deviation from the vertical
is measured properly and is kept the same
throughout all trials.
8. Carefully release of the mass from the deviated
angle and allow it to swing for 2-3 swings and
lose some of the vibrations that may have been
transferred.

Horizontal support

Length

Mass

9. Activating the stopwatch as the string oscillation

commences a new period.
10. Continue timing the pendulum until it has moved through 10 complete
oscillations (periods) and record the times.
11. Repeat steps 3 through 9 a total of 5 more times. However before each new set
shorten the string by 10 cm of its length. Ensure that the deviation angle is
controlled for constancy through all trials.
12. Use the equation g = 42l/T2 and determine g for each result and finally
perform necessary calculation to determine the average.
13. Represent the results graphically by plotting a graph for period squared vs.
length. Draw the line of best fit.
14. Use the gradient of the line and sub into equation g = 42 1/m
15. Write a conclusion for the experiment and outline which final result is valid
and why this is so.

HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Practical

Results:
Results attained form different lengths and 5 trials
Length: 1m
Trial

Time for 10
oscillations

Length: 0.9m
Period
(s)

Period2
(S2)

Trial

Time for 10
oscillations

1
2
3
4
5

1
2
3
4
5

Average

Average

Length: 0.8m

Length: 0.7m

Trial

Time for 10
oscillations

Period
(s)

Period2
(S2)

Trial

Time for 10
oscillations

1
2
3
4
5

1
2
3
4
5

Average

Average

Length: 0.6m

Length: 0.5m

Trial

Time for 10
oscillations

Period
(s)

Period2
(S2)

Trial

1
2
3
4
5

1
2
3
4
5

Average

Average

Time for 10
oscillations

Period
(s)

Period2
(S2)

Period
(s)

Period2
(S2)

Period
(s)

Period2
(S2)

HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Analysis:

To Find g:
T = 2(l/g)

T/2 = (l/g)
T2/42 = l/g
gT2/42 = l
g = 42l/T2

Determining G
T2=
L = 1.0 meter
G=

Determining G
T2=
L = 0.9 meter
G=

Determining G
T2=
L = 0.8 meter
G=

Practical

HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Determining G
T2=
L = 0.7 meter
G=

Determining G
T2=
L = 0.6 meter
G=

Determining G
T2=
L = 0.5 meter
G=

Final Average of G:

Practical

HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Finding g using the graph

Practical

Gravity as determined form the graph

m = rise/run

Rise

T2 (s2)
Run
Length (m)
Sub m into eqn: g = 42 x 1/m

Run

HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Practical

Conclusion:
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HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Practical

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HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Practical

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HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Practical

Conclusion: Gravitational acceleration was found to be __________ form the result

calculations and ________ form graphical solution. These values were
____% off the accepted value of 9.8m/s^2. the independent variable in
this investigation was the length of the string and, therefore, the length of
the pendulum this is only if the dimensions of the mass carrier are kept
constant which in this case were. The reason for starting the experiment
from 1 m with 0.1 m in between was to increase the accuracy of
measurements and in turn minimise error. Using shorter lengths was not
a good idea because shorter pendulums have shorter periods. Since
measurements of period were taken with a stopwatch by a timekeeper,
the shorter the periods would have been more difficult for the timekeeper
to make accurate judgments o when to start and stop. Using the longest
strings is very practicable and means that this source of error was
reduced in this investigation.
the second dependent variable in this investigation was period of oscillation. For a
pendulum in simple harmonic motion (shm) with a small deviation angle, period of
oscillation depends only upon the pendulum length and the acceleration due to
gravity. The reason for timing 10 oscillations, rather than just one, was to eliminate
the errors in judgment associated with panic and mad scrambles during short time
frames. Prolonging the oscillations meant that the timekeeper was able to better
anticipate the point of closure and, hence, take a more accurate reading of time. A
possible source of error in this procedure, however, lies in the division of each
recorded time by 10. This was done on the assumption that period of oscillation
remains constant for 10 full oscillations, when, in reality, it would decrease over time
(since the pendulum would lose momentum through interactions with forces retarding
its motion, including air resistance).
Evaluation of the validity of conclusions and sources of error
The value for gravitational acceleration calculated in this experiment differed
slightly from the theoretical value of 9.80ms-2 published in each of the below texts.
One possible reason for this deviation lies in the levels of accuracy of the measuring
instruments used. The limits of reading of the instruments, and of the rule and
stopwatch, in particular, were a limitation in this investigation, and a barrier to
achieving results of utmost exactness and, hence, a conclusion of utmost reliability.
Substitution of measuring apparatus of higher levels of accuracy would have
improved the validity of the conclusion through minimising absolute errors in both
collected and calculated data.
Gravitational acceleration was both a calculated, and a controlled variable in this
investigation. The formula above works on the assumption that acceleration due to
gravity is a constant. However, it is known that gravitation acceleration changes with
such factors as altitude, crustal density and position on the Earths surface. For this
reason, no change in string length was made without adjusting the boss head and
clamp so as to keep the distance between the mass carrier and the ground
constant for all trials. Also, the retort stand was always kept in the same position on
the lab bench to preserve reliability.

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HSC Physics - Space

Assessment Task 1
Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Practical

Another reason for the discrepancy between the true and experimental values for
gravitational acceleration could have been the failure of the investigation to
adequately account for the error ranges of measuring instruments in both calculations
and the graphical representation. To eliminate this error source, these ranges could
have been factored into calculations involving T, T2 and l, giving more exact values of
g and bringing greater validity to drawn conclusions. Also, instead of simply taking
the average of the 6 values of g as the definitive value, an allowance for error could
have been made by determining the greatest residual from the arithmetic mean and
expressing the final value as a range, rather than a definite figure. This would have
had the added advantage of showing clearly the level of accuracy of the investigation
and, hence, giving a truer indication of the reliability of the conclusion.
A possible source of error, and a possible cause for the difference between the
value of g calculated in this experiment and the theoretical value, lies in the variations
in gravitational acceleration that relate to geographical position. Depending on the
thickness and density of the Earths crust, proximity to the Earths poles and the
magnitude of centrifuge forces at any one point on the Earths surface, the value for g
calculated in this experiment could have deviated by as much as 0.032ms-2 due to
factors beyond direct control.
Also contributing to the stated discrepancy could have been inherent faults in the
apparatus used, including weak and/or worn components of the boss head, clamp,
mass carrier and/or retort stand, as well as frailty of the string, or even a weakening of
an otherwise strong string through repeated use. Solutions to this source of error
include replacing the string with a fresh length before each new trial and carefully
examining and replacing other apparatus where, and when, necessary.
Another reason the validity of conclusions may have suffered could have been the
intervention of humans in both the data collection, and the data analysis process. Both
systematic, and accidental errors, including those related to parallax, arising from
human involvement would have had a negative impact on the reliability of gathered
data, the accurate analysis of that data, and the validity of the drawn conclusion.
Replacing humans with artificial intelligence in the form of robots and/or computers
in the areas of data collection and analysis (for example, having the line graph
produced on Microsoft Excel instead of by hand) would have rectified this error
source and improved the reliability of the investigation as a whole.
Each time the pendulum is brought from equilibrium back to its extreme of motion
before release, it is critical that no, or, at the very least, little tension is lost from the
string. By supplying flexion to the string, the mass carrier is given additional potential
energy on top of the weight force already being exerted. This means that, on release,
the pendulum will have additional and unwanted forces acting on it, resulting in
further reaction forces, impulses through the string and the disturbance of harmony in
the shm system. This could lead to inaccurate results and an unreliable conclusion.

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