Experiment 3

The Simple Pendulum

By

Monty N. J. Attzs
PHY 2091-07
Experiment Performer: 30th Jan 2014
Report Submitted: 6th Feb 2014

Lab Partners:

Kelsey Dejesus-Banos
Shouyu Chen

Instructor:

Corinne Fletcher

Introduction
The purpose of this experiment was to calculate the value of the acceleration due to gravity, g,
using the simple pendulum. Equipment was set up as described, measurements were made and
recorded, errors were calculated and an experimental value for g, ge, was found. This value was
then compared to the theoretical value of g, gth.

Data

Data Analysis
List of variables used:

L Average length of pendulum

Average length of string
Average radius of bob
e Average period after all trials
Ti Total time for trial i
i Average period for trial i
N No. of oscillations per trial (10)
n No. of trials

gex Experimental acceleration due

to gravity
gth Theoretical acceleration due to

gravity = 9.792 0.005 m/s2

d Difference between ge and gth
x Error in value represented by x
%x Percent error in value
represented by x

Sample

Calculations:

Average length of pendulum:

- Average period of all trials:

L = + = 92.3 + 1.25 = 93.55 cm

(using first time)

L = 0.10 cm
%L = 1.1%

i = Ti /N = 19.42/10 = 1.924 s
e = [(i) /n] = 1.910 s
= 0.0104 (From Excel)
% = ( / e) * 100

(Estimated form the measuring

equipment)

= (0.0104/1.910) * 100 = 0.5%

%2 = 2 * % = 1.1%

- Acceleration due to gravity:

gex = %gex * gex = 0.11

m/s2Discrepancy, d:

gex = (L/100) * [1/( e /2)2]

= (93.55/100) * [1/(1.910/2)2]
= 10.12 m/s2

%gex = %L/2
2

= SQRT[(%2) + (%L) ]
= SQRT[(1.1)2 + (0.11)2]
= 1.1%

d = | gex gth| = |10.12 - 9.792| =

0.33 m/s2

d = SQRT[(gex)2 + (%gth)2]

= SQRT[(0.11)2 + (0.005)2]

= 0.11 m/s2

Experimental Gravitational

Discussion
Theoretical Gravitational

Acceleration:

Acceleration:

10.12 0.11 m/s2 OR

9.792 0.005 m/s2

10.12 1.1%

9.792 0.05 %

OR

Discrepancy, d = 0.33 0.11 m/s2

Percent Difference: 3%

The sources of error in this experiment include random error in measurement of the
length of the pendulum (cumulative of the length of the string and the radius of the bob)
and measurement of the time periods for each trial. Errors would have been most
pronounced in the measurement of the time periods as it was done by multiple people,
each with different reaction times. If one person had handled the timing of all of the
trials, then this random error in measurement would have been significantly reduced and
it would have become closer to that of a systematic error, as only the reaction of once
person would have to be considered which, in comparison, should be relatively constant.

It is also very likely that there was a systematic intrinsic error in the calculated value of g
(gex) because of the exact value at our precise position, with respect to the earth, at which
the experiment was conducted. This error should, however, be negligible as the value of g
has been tested to be relatively the same across large regions of the earth.

The calculated errors throughout the experiment were relatively small. The percent error
of gex (1.1%) is about equal to that of the error in 2 (1.1%) and about ten times that of L
(0.11%). This shows that the error in 2 is, by large, the one responsible for the size of the
error in gex. Since gex was found to be greater than gth; it was most likely due to the delay,
caused by human reaction time, to start the timer after the bob was released which caused
the recording of slightly shorter times and therefore a larger gex. Early stoppings of the
timer could have also contributed to this, however, it is much more difficult to identify if

this occurred or not as it is only a possibility, whereas the delay in reaction times
definitely did occur.

In the end, the error in the discrepancy (0.11) was found to be smaller than the
discrepancy (0.33). This says that the result (gex) does not agree with the theoretical value
(gth) within experimental error. As such, the experiment cannot be said to have been a
success even though the calculated value was found to be relatively close (3%
difference).

 Conclusion

The experimental acceleration to the gravity was found within a confidence margin of
1.1%. However, it did not agree with the theoretical value within the experimental margin
of error. The most likely cause was the inconsistencies of measuring the time period of
oscillations caused by allowing multiple people to take the readings.