HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical

Using a Pendulum to Determine G

Using a Pendulum to determine G
Aim:
To calculate and the rate of acceleration due to graity !y inestigating the
graitational effects on the oscillatory motion of an aerage pendulum"
Background:
#hen a pendulum s$ings $ith a small angle% the mass on the end performs a
good appro&imation of the !ack-'forth motion (simple harmonic motion) the
period of the pendulum is the time taken to complete one single !ack and forth
motion" This depends on *ust t$o aria!les length of the string and the rate of
acceleration due to graity" The mass has a ery 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,s
-
)due to graity
Apparatus:
Retort Stand
Clamp
Boss Head
String 1- meter
ass Carrier
ass !"g
etre Rule
Stop#atch
$arge Protractor
ethod:
1% Set up the apparatus as sho$n in the diagram !elo$"
1
String
Counter #eight
Clamp
.etort Stand
/ass carrier
and /ass
&ote: 0 1123 to aoid angular displacement"
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
'% Collect a mass carrier and tie it strongly to a string"
(% Pick up the mass carries !y the string and hae another mem!er of the group
carefully measure 1 of the string starting from the !ase of the mass carrier"
)% .ecord the length of the pendulum" Attach the string to the clamp really
tightly and ensure that you still hae 1 meter from the top to the !ottom of the
string"
!% 4nsure that the icinity is free of any o!structions to the s$inging pendulum"
*% 5f necessary place a g-clamp or e&cess $eight on the retort stand to stop the
retort stand from a!sor!ing the motion energy of the pendulum !y i!rating"
+% .eset all stop $atches and gently moe the
pendulum from e6uili!rium to a measured
distance of 123 or less using a large protractor"
4nsure the angle of deiation from the ertical
is measured properly and is kept the same
throughout all trials"
,% Carefully release of the mass from the deiated
angle and allo$ it to s$ing for --7 s$ings and
lose some of the i!rations that may hae !een
transferred"
-% Actiating the stop$atch as the string oscillation
commences a ne$ period"
1"% Continue timing the pendulum until it has moed through 18 complete
oscillations (periods) and record the times"
11% .epeat steps 7 through 9 a total of 2 more times" Ho$eer !efore each ne$ set
shorten the string !y 18 cm of its length" 4nsure that the deiation angle is
controlled for constancy through all trials"
1'% Use the e6uation g . )/
'
l0T
'
and determine g for each result and finally
perform necessary calculation to determine the aerage"
1(% .epresent the results graphically !y plotting a graph for period s6uared s"
length" Dra$ the line of !est fit"
1)% Use the gradient of the line and su! into e6uation g : )/
'
10m
1!% #rite a conclusion for the e&periment and outline $hich final result is alid
and $hy this is so"
-

0
Hori;ontal support
<ength
/ass
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Results:
.esults attained form different lengths and 2 trials
Length: 1m
Trial Time for 10
oscillations
Period
(s)
Period
2

(S
2
)
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Length: 0.8m
Trial Time for 10
oscillations
Period
(s)
Period
2

(S
2
)
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Length: 0.6m
Trial Time for 10
oscillations
Period
(s)
Period
2

(S
2
)
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Length: 0.9m
Trial Time for 10
oscillations
Period
(s)
Period
2

(S
2
)
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Length: 0.7m
Trial Time for 10
oscillations
Period
(s)
Period
2

(S
2
)
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Length: 0.5m
Trial Time for 10
oscillations
Period
(s)
Period
2

(S
2
)
1
2
3
4
5
Average
7
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Anal1sis:
2etermining G
T
-
:
< : 1"8 meter
G :
2etermining G
T
-
:
< : 8"9 meter
G :
2etermining G
T
-
:
< : 8"= meter
G :
>
To 3ind g:
T . '/45l0g6 T0'/ . 45l0g6
T
'
0)/
'
. l0g
gT
'
0)/
'
. l
g . )/
'
l0T
'
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
2etermining G
T
-
:
< : 8"? meter
G :
2etermining G
T
-
:
< : 8"@ meter
G :
2etermining G
T
-
:
< : 8"2 meter
G :
3inal A7erage o8 G:
2
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
@
Ainding g using the graph


Su! m into e6n+ g : >B
-
& 1,m
.un
.un
.ise
<ength (m)
T
-
(s
-
)
m : rise,run
Graity as determined form the graph
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Conclusion:
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
?
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
=
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Conclusion: Graitational acceleration $as found to !e CCCCCCCCCC form the result
calculations and CCCCCCCC form graphical solution" These alues $ere
CCCCD off the accepted alue of 9"=m,sE-" the independent aria!le in
this inestigation $as 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 $hich in this case $ere" The reason for starting the e&periment
from 1 m $ith 8"1 m in !et$een $as to increase the accuracy of
measurements and in turn minimise error" Using shorter lengths $as not
a good idea !ecause shorter pendulums hae shorter periods" Since
measurements of period $ere taken $ith a stop$atch !y a timekeeper%
the shorter the periods $ould hae !een more difficult for the timekeeper
to make accurate *udgments o $hen to start and stop" Using the longest
strings is ery practica!le and means that this source of error $as
reduced in this inestigation"
F the second dependent aria!le in this inestigation $as period of oscillation" Aor a
pendulum in simple harmonic motion (shm) $ith a small deiation angle% period of
oscillation depends only upon the pendulum length and the acceleration due to
graity" The reason for timing 18 oscillations% rather than *ust one% $as to eliminate
the errors in *udgment associated $ith panic and mad scram!les during short time
frames" Prolonging the oscillations meant that the timekeeper $as a!le to !etter
anticipate the point of closure and% hence% take a more accurate reading of time" A
possi!le source of error in this procedure% ho$eer% lies in the diision of each
recorded time !y 18" This $as done on the assumption that period of oscillation
remains constant for 18 full oscillations% $hen% in reality% it $ould decrease oer time
(since the pendulum $ould lose momentum through interactions $ith forces retarding
its motion% including air resistance)"
Evalation of the validit! of conclsions and sorces of error
F The alue for graitational acceleration calculated in this e&periment differed
slightly from the theoretical alue of 9"=8ms
--
pu!lished in each of the !elo$ te&ts"
Gne possi!le reason for this deiation lies in the leels of accuracy of the measuring
instruments used" The limits of reading of the instruments% and of the rule and
stop$atch% in particular% $ere a limitation in this inestigation% and a !arrier to
achieing results of utmost e&actness and% hence% a conclusion of utmost relia!ility"
Su!stitution of measuring apparatus of higher leels of accuracy $ould hae
improed the alidity of the conclusion through minimising a!solute errors in !oth
collected and calculated data"
F Graitational acceleration $as !oth a calculated% and a controlled aria!le in this
inestigation" The formula a!oe $orks on the assumption that acceleration due to
graity is a constant" Ho$eer% it is kno$n that graitation acceleration changes $ith
such factors as altitude% crustal density and position on the 4arthHs surface" Aor this
reason% no change in string length $as made $ithout ad*usting the !oss head and
clamp so as to keep the distance :et#een the mass carrier and the ground
constant 8or all trials% Also% the retort stand $as al$ays kept in the same position on
the la! !ench to presere relia!ility"
F
18
HSC Physics - Space Assessment Task 1 Practical
Using a Pendulum to Determine G
Another reason for the discrepancy !et$een the true and e&perimental alues for
graitational acceleration could hae !een the failure of the inestigation to
ade6uately account for the error ranges of measuring instruments in !oth calculations
and the graphical representation" To eliminate this error source% these ranges could
hae !een factored into calculations inoling T% T
-
and l% giing more e&act alues of
g and !ringing greater alidity to dra$n conclusions" Also% instead of simply taking
the aerage of the @ alues of g as the definitie alue% an allo$ance for error could
hae !een made !y determining the greatest residual from the arithmetic mean and
e&pressing the final alue as a range% rather than a definite figure" This $ould hae
had the added adantage of sho$ing clearly the leel of accuracy of the inestigation
and% hence% giing a truer indication of the relia!ility of the conclusion"
F F A possi!le source of error% and a possi!le cause for the difference !et$een the
alue of g calculated in this e&periment and the theoretical alue% lies in the ariations
in graitational acceleration that relate to geographical position" Depending on the
thickness and density of the 4arthHs crust% pro&imity to the 4arthHs poles and the
magnitude of centrifuge forces at any one point on the 4arthHs surface% the alue for g
calculated in this e&periment could hae deiated !y as much as 8"87-ms
--
due to
factors !eyond direct control"
F Also contri!uting to the stated discrepancy could hae !een inherent faults in the
apparatus used% including $eak and,or $orn components of the !oss head% clamp%
mass carrier and,or retort stand% as $ell as frailty of the string% or een a $eakening of
an other$ise strong string through repeated use" Solutions to this source of error
include replacing the string $ith a fresh length !efore each ne$ trial and carefully
e&amining and replacing other apparatus $here% and $hen% necessary"
F Another reason the alidity of conclusions may hae suffered could hae !een the
interention of humans in !oth the data collection% and the data analysis process" Ioth
systematic% and accidental errors% including those related to paralla&% arising from
human inolement $ould hae had a negatie impact on the relia!ility of gathered
data% the accurate analysis of that data% and the alidity of the dra$n conclusion"
.eplacing humans $ith artificial intelligence in the form of ro!ots and,or computers
in the areas of data collection and analysis (for e&ample% haing the line graph
produced on /icrosoft 4&cel instead of !y hand) $ould hae rectified this error
source and improed the relia!ility of the inestigation as a $hole"
F 4ach time the pendulum is !rought from e6uili!rium !ack to its e&treme of motion
!efore release% it is critical that no% or% at the ery least% little tension is lost from the
string" Iy supplying fle&ion to the string% the mass carrier is gien additional potential
energy on top of the $eight force already !eing e&erted" This means that% on release%
the pendulum $ill hae additional and un$anted forces acting on it% resulting in
further reaction forces% impulses through the string and the distur!ance of harmony in
the shm system" This could lead to inaccurate results and an unrelia!le conclusion"
11