ENGINEERING PHYSICS LAB MANUAL

Experiment # 4: Time period of a Simple

Pendulum

Objectives:
a) To determine time period of a simple pendulum for different lengths.
b) To find out value of gravity on earth using simple pendulum.
c) To discuss the result of the experiment.
Experiment Requirements:
1. A bob of any material with string attached to it.
2. A stopwatch.
3. Measuring scale.
About the experiment:
Simple harmonic motion is not restricted to masses on springs. In fact, it is one of the most common
and important types of motion found in nature. From the vibrations of atoms to the vibrations of
airplane swings, simple harmonic motion plays an important role in many physical phenomena. A
swinging pendulum, for example, exhibits behavior very similar to that of a mass on a spring. By
making some comparisons between these two phenomena, some predictions can be made about
the period of oscillations for a pendulum.

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1. Setup and Procedure:

 Setup the equipment as instructed.

 Take any suitable length of thread/string and tie it to the mass hanger.
 Measure the length of the cord and write down in observation table.
 Oscillate the pendulum parallel to the line of motion. Do not tilt it.
 Start the timer with oscillation and note down the time taken for specific oscillations.
 Repeat the experiment by changing the length of the string.
 Use different types of pendulum to determine the change in parameters.

2. Theory:
Figure 1 shows a pendulum with the string and mass at an angle 𝜃 from the vertical position. Two
forces act on the mass; the force of the string and the force of gravity. The gravitational force, F =
mg, can be resolved into two components; Fx and Fy. F just balances the force of the string and
therefore does not accelerate the mass. Fx is in the direction of motion of the mass, and therefore
does accelerate and decelerate the mass.

Figure 1: Forces acting on simple pendulum

Using the two congruent triangles in the diagram, it can be seen that Fx = mgsin 𝜽, and that the
displacement of the mass from its equilibrium position is an arc whose distance, x is approximately
L tan 𝜽. If the angle 𝜃 is reasonably small, then it is very nearly true that sin 𝜃 = tan 𝜃. Therefore,
for small swings of the pendulum, it is approximately true that F = mgtan 𝜃 = mgx/L. (Since Fx is
a restoring force, the equation could be stated more accurately as Fx= -mgx/L.) Comparing this
equation with the equation fora mass on a spring (F = -kx), it can be seen that the quantity mg/L
plays the same mathematical role as the spring constant.

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ENGINEERING PHYSICS LAB MANUAL

On the basis of this similarity, you might speculate that the period of motion for a pendulum is
just:

𝒎 𝑳
𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅√ = 𝟐𝝅√ ----- equation (1)
𝒎𝒈/𝑳 𝒈

where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and L is distance from the pivot point to
the center of mass of the hanging mass. In this experiment, you will test the validity of this equation.
Observation Table:
i. Determine time period of a simple pendulum and compare with theoretical value.
S.No Length of No. of Measured time for Time period for Calculated
string oscillations ‘N’ oscillations one oscillation Time period
L (m) N (#) t (sec) T=t/N (eq. 1)
1
2
3
4

ii. Modify the equation 1 and determine the value of gravity using the above method.
S.No Length of No. of Measured time for Time period for Value of
string oscillations ‘N’ oscillations one oscillation Gravity
L (m) N (#) t (sec) T=t/N (eq. 2)
1
2
3
4

Derive eq.2 by modifying eq.1 for finding the value of gravity:

Does changing the mass of the pendulum make any different to the time period? ________

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