Aamir Khan

Title: Simple Harmonic Motion of a Simple Pendulum

Aim: To investigate how the position of a pivot affects the period of oscillation of a
simple Pendulum.
Theory:
An oscillation is the single swing or movement in one direction of an oscillating
body, which can also be the single fluctuation between maximum and minimum
values in such an effect.
The period, T, is the time taken for one oscillation to occur.
In this experiment since there is no mass at the end of this pendulum it does not act
as a simple pendulum and acts by the equation:

4 2 2 2
T 2 h= (h + k )
g

Where T is the period, h is the height from the center, g an k are constants.
Materials: Meter rule with holes in it every 5cm, stopwatch, retort stand with
clamps, block of wood with pin.
Diagram:

Diagram: showing set up of apparatus for this experiment

Procedure:
1. The apparatus was set up as shown in the diagram with the meter rule
hanging from one of the holes other than the center.
2. The rule was displaced slightly at a very small angle.
3. The time taken for 20 oscillations was recorded.
4. Steps 2-3 were repeated.
5. Steps 2-4 were repeated placing the ruler at a different height from its center
each time until 6 sets of results were obtained.

Results:

Time taken for 20 oscillations/s

Height from T(period)/s
center/m t1 t2 tave

0.50 32.37 32.19 32.28 1.61

0.45 30.71 30.62 30.67 1.53
0.40 29.81 29.92 29.87 1.49
0.35 29.36 29.28 29.33 1.47
0.30 29.12 28.91 29.01 1.45
0.25 29.21 29.12 29.17 1.47

Treatment of results:

Height from T(period)/s T2h h2

center/m
0.50 1.61 1.29 0.25
0.45 1.53 1.05 0.20
0.40 1.49 0.88 0.16
0.35 1.47 0.76 0.12
0.30 1.45 0.63 0.09
0.25 1.47 0.54 0.06
y-intercept: 0.32
Gradient of the graph:
(0.18, 0.98)(0.18, 1.34)

1.340.98 0.36
0.280.18 = 0.1

=3.6

4 2 ( 2 2)
T 2 h= h +k
g

2 4 2 2 4 2 2
T h= h+ k
g g

This is in the form y= mx +c

4 2
g = grad = 3.6

2
4
g= 3.6 = 10.96ms-2

4 2 2
c= k = 0.32
g

k=
g
42
(0.32)

=0.31m

When h is 13cm, h2=0.0169m2 and T2h = 0.37s2m

0.37
T=
0.13
=1.68 s

Precautions:
1. The windows were closed to avoid any error cause by wind.
2. The angle of displacement was always kept small.

Sources of Error:
1. Reaction Time
2. Air resistance may have damped the system affecting the values of the
Period.

Conclusion:
The value for g was found to be 10.96ms-2 , k was found to be 0.31m.
T is 1.68s when h is said to be 13cm.