2 - Simple Pendulum

SIMPLE Dr.
Faris Alzahrani
PENDULUM
Objective:
Calculate the acceleration of gravity ‘g’ and compare with expected value by analyzing
the motion of a pendulum moving with Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM).
Historically:
Historically the first systematic study of the pendulum is attributed to Galileo Galilei,
around 1602
A pendulum is a body suspended from a fixed
support so that it swings freely back and forth
under the influence of gravity. When a pendulum is
displaced sideways from its resting (equilibrium
position), it is subject to a restoring force due to
gravity that will accelerate it back toward the
equilibrium position. When released, the restoring
force acting on the pendulum's mass causes it to
oscillate about the equilibrium position, swinging it
back and forth.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendulum_(mathematics) https://www.webassign.net/question_assets/tamucolphysmechl1/lab_1/manual.html
 So what forces act upon a pendulum bob? And what is
the restoring force for a pendulum?
There are two dominant forces acting upon a pendulum

bob at all times during the course of its motion.
1- There is the force of gravity that acts downward upon

the bob. It results from the Earth's mass attracting the
mass of the bob.
2- there is a tension force acting upward and towards the
pivot point of the pendulum. The tension force results
from the string pulling upon the bob of the pendulum.
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-0/Pendulum-Motion
We can see that the perpendicular component of
gravity (has components mg cosθ along the string
and mg sinθ tangent to the arc.) is in the opposite
direction of the tension force.
Therefore, the tension in the string exactly cancels

each others. This leaves a net restoring force back
toward the equilibrium position at θ = 0
We begin by defining the displacement to be the arc

length S. We see from the Figure that the net force on
the bob is tangent to the arc and equal to F=
−mg sinθ.
Notes:
1- Friction from both air resistance and the system is negligible.

The air resistance force is relatively weak compared to the two dominant forces.
2- The motion is regular and repeating, an example of periodic motion.
3- The period of the pendulum is the time required for the pendulum bob to
complete one oscillation (cycle).
4- For small displacements, a pendulum act as a simple harmonic oscillator.

Now, if we can show that the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement, then we have a simple
harmonic oscillator. In trying to determine if we have a simple harmonic oscillator, we should note that for small
angles (less than about 15º), sinθ ≈ θ .Thus, the restoring force F is
F ≈ −mgθ.
Where the minus sign indicates that F is in an opposite direction to the angular displacement θ
The displacement (s) is directly proportional to θ. When θ is expressed in radians, the arc length in a circle is related to
radius by s = Lθ. If we let x = s , and arranged the eq. we get
Θ=
For small angles, then, the expression for the restoring force is:
F≈ − x
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/16-4-the-simple-pendulum/
If we apply Hook’s law: F = −kx, where the k (stiffness constant), then
k=
And recall the eq. of angular frequency (w),
w=
then the frequency is,
f=
Thus, for the period of a simple pendulum
T=2π
and solve for g:
=4
This result is interesting because only things that affect the period of a simple pendulum are the length and
the gravity acceleration. The period is completely independent of other factors, such as mass.
Thus, the graph of the period squared against length can be used to determine experimentally
the gravity acceleration near the earth’s surface.

A plot of the T2 as a function of the L produces a straight line, for which slope is
g=
Variables:
m = the mass (kilograms)
g = acceleration due to gravity (meter/)
L = length from the string to the mass center of bob (meters)
θ = angle between the string position to the string position at rest (radians)
t = time (seconds)
T = period of the pendulum (time for one complete cycle) (seconds)
k= stiffness constant (spring const)

Applications
Pendulums have many applications and were utilized often before the digital age.
They are used in clocks and metronomes due to the regularity of their period,
in wrecking balls and playground swings, due to their simple way of building
up and keeping energy.
They are even found in various scientist instruments, from seismographs to early
torpedo guidance systems, due to their sensitivity to disturbance. A predecessor to the
seismograph was based on an inverted pendulum, at around 123 A.D.
PROCEDURE
1. Setup apparatus
2. Measure length of pendulum (for corresponding length) from pivot point to the
centre of the mass (bob).
3. Displace the pendulum about from its equilibrium position and let it swing back and forth. Measure
the total time takes to make complete 10 oscillations (t 10). and tabulate the results.
4. Measure the time for 10 oscillations and calculate the period and tabulate the results.
Repeat for same length for a total of 3 runs. Calculate the average period for the 3 runs.
5. Increase the length of the pendulum (L) at least 5 different times and record (L) & (t 10) every once.
6. Calculate the period of the oscillations (T) for each length by dividing the total time t10 /10
7. Calculate the acceleration of gravity from the equation: = 4
8. plot a graph of T2 (as Y-axis) against L ( as X-axis), it should be a straight line through the origin.
9. Find the slope of the line, whereas: g =

Thank you for listening
!Any Questions
Dr. Faris Alzahrani

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SIMPLE Dr.

There are two dominant forces acting upon a pendulum

1- There is the force of gravity that acts downward upon

Therefore, the tension in the string exactly cancels

We begin by defining the displacement to be the arc

1- Friction from both air resistance and the system is negligible.

2- The motion is regular and repeating, an example of periodic motion.

4- For small displacements, a pendulum act as a simple harmonic oscillator.

And recall the eq. of angular frequency (w),

then the frequency is,

and solve for g:

m = the mass (kilograms)

g = acceleration due to gravity (meter/)

L = length from the string to the mass center of bob (meters)

T = period of the pendulum (time for one complete cycle) (seconds)

k= stiffness constant (spring const)

7. Calculate the acceleration of gravity from the equation: = 4

9. Find the slope of the line, whereas: g =

Dr. Faris Alzahrani

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