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Tristan Johnston-Wood

Obtaining the acceleration due to gravity by modeling SHM using a pendulum


Introduction and Background theory We can calculate the acceleration due to gravity by using a pendulum in motion. To work out g we can use the equation T=2(L/g) and rearrange for g: g=L42/T2 Where L=length of pendulum wire (m); T=the time period (s) By then controlling L all we have to do to find g is the record the time period of the swinging pendulum (This is the time taken for the pendulum to complete a full swing in seconds.) This experiment is based on simple harmonic motion (SHM). SHM is a system in which the restoring force in directly proportional to the displacement. [1] An equation associated with SHM is a=-kx, where a is acceleration, k is a constant and x is the displacement. If this equation is not true in a system then it cannot be a SHM model. Other features of SHM include sinusoidal- a sine wave representing a repetitive oscillation; isochronous-an event that occurs at a regular time interval; amplitude is independent to displacement. Risk assessment: To reduce the risks in this experiment we will ensure that the wire with pendulum on is fixed securely to the clamp stand, making sure that it will remain in place throughout the experiment. In addition we will make sure that once the pendulum is swinging, no one or thing will be in the pathway as this could result in injury. Equipment: -Meter rule- to measure the length of the wire (in cm then converted into meters). The precision of this is 1cm with a percentage uncertainly of about 0.5cm. -Stopclock- to record the time period of the pendulum in motion. The precision of this relies solely on our reaction time, however this is likely to only affect the results slightly. -Clamp-to suspend the pendulum in the air. -Wire-to allow the mass to hang from. This has a low elasticity so will be unlikely to increases in length once mass in hanging from it. -Mass-to swing from the wire completing the SHM model. -Wooden blocks- to fasten the wire onto the clamp.

Tristan Johnston-Wood Percentage uncertainly error, including systematic and random error: Length of wire systematic error: the precision of the rule was estimated at 0.5cm. Measuring at high lengths (I.e) 80cm, the percentage uncertainly is low (0.625%), however when measuring 20cm the percentage error is greater (2.5%). This will affect the overall results, as the longer length tests will be more accurate on average than the shorter ones. Random error will also be present when using the rule we measured the lengths using our eyesight. To reduce this error, each one of us read off the length and confirmed it with each other. The rule measures doesnt measure to the exact mm so there will always be ambiguity in measuring using a rule. To reduce this we would have to use a rule that measured to 0.1 of a mm. Measuring the time period random error: as we measured the time period by eye, there will be random error involving knowing exactly when the pendulum reached the centre point. To bypass this, all 3 of us had stop clocks and measured the time period individually-this would reduce the error of judgment. If we recorded the time taken for one swing, this could potentially be highly inaccurate, so we timed 10 swings and then divided by 10 as this would reduce the percentage error, as there is a smaller proportion of timing to the number of swings. To further reduce error we repeated the tests 5 times each and calculated an average results for each different length. Method: Assemble a clamp onto an edge tall enough to allow the pendulum to hang from. Attach a mass to a long wire and then, using the meter rule, measure out 80cm of the wire and mark the length. Using the wooden blocks fasten the wire onto the clamp stand (make sure the wire can hang off the edge if needed and that there are no obstructions for it to hit). Start to swing the pendulum from a sensible amplitude in relation to the clamp (<90o, see diagram for clarification). Once satisfied that the pendulum is swinging in an isochronous fashion start the stopclock (remembering to start counting from 0 and not 1) as it passes the middle of the swing making sure that your eye level is in line with the swinging pendulum and the middle. After 10 swings stop the timer and record the time taken. Repeat this process for 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, and 20cm. For each length repeat the experiment 5 times giving a total of 35 results (7 different lengths with 5 repeats). Results: When we recorded the results we divided the time period by 10 to get T for one swing as we recorded T for 10 swings.
Length (cm) 0.5cm 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 Time Period (s) 3 1.763 1.696 1.596 1.447 1.307 1.113 0.892 Average (s) 1.762 1.696 1.582 1.438 1.298 1.110 0.8968

1 1.756 1.697 1.578 1.435 1.291 1.116 0.915

2 1.763 1.687 1.578 1.433 1.296 1.106 0.883

4 1.767 1.709 1.589 1.436 1.302 1.109 0.893

5 1.761 1.693 1.567 1.441 1.296 1.107 0.901

Uncertainty % 0.40 1.29 1.82 0.97 0.84 0.63 3.50

Tristan Johnston-Wood Analysis/ Conclusion: The time period for 80cm was on average 1.762, this then dropped down to 1.696 for 70cm. We can use this to work out the average decrease in T per 10cm. The decrease in T was on average 0.1 seconds. The percentage uncertainty for the different lengths followed no obvious pattern; ranging from 0.40 to 3.50% with leaps in the middle lengths. We can now input out values for L and T to calculate g. g=L42/T2 G=[(80x10-2)x42]/[1.762]2= 10.2ms-2 We repeated this for each different length and corresponding time period:
g (ms-2) 10.2 9.60 9.46 9.54 9.36 9.60 9.81
35 30 25 L4^2 20 15 10 5 0 0 0.5 1 1.5 T^2 2 2.5 3 3.5 y = 9.971x - 0.6114

We can also plot a graph of L42 against T2. From this we can then calculation the gradient of the line, which gives us 9.971x. This represents g, which we know as 9.81. The y intercept is -0.6114, this should be 0 as 0 length will give a time period of 0. From this experiment we have calculated that g is 9.97ms-2 (+0.23, -0.16). This is 0.16ms-2 higher than the actual value resulting in an error of 1.6%. Our closest result was precisely g giving a 0% error. With a percentage error of this small, we can conclude that the test to find g was successful as it gave accurate results, however our variation from the actual value varied from 0-3.8%. This then leads onto the evaluation and discussion of the uncertainly error in this experiment.

Tristan Johnston-Wood Evaluation: The results produced suggest a low error in experiment as the value was very close to the actual of 9.81m2-2. This shows that the SHM experiment involving the pendulum is an accurate and reliable test to calculate the acceleration due to gravity. It is accurate because it gave a result close to g and reliable because for the most part every result gathered fitted in with the predictions. The largest uncertainty error was 3.50%, which was most likely down to random error of
judgement of the time period. However as the test was repeated 5 times this reduced the error so overall affected the final results only slightly.

The equipment we used could have affected the accuracy of the results. The clamp, wooden blocks, mass, and wire were unlikely to affect them because they were not used to measure and caused no problems such as additional movement. The stopclock, measuring the small amount of time had a low uncertainly error compared to the reaction time of the people doing the experiment. The main piece that would affect it would be the rule, which was mentioned before. We recorded the results to 4 significant figures to improve accurately in the final calculation. The averages also maintained 4 SF. This was important for the input of the equation because the final result needed to be to 3 SF (9.81 eg) as this was the actual value, which we aimed to obtain from experiment. To improve the experiment for the future, if resources and time were less limited I would: -Use 30 swings and divide by 30 to get a time period, improving accuracy and reducing the error caused by reaction time. -Use wire of a reliable previously known length to avoid error of measuring using a rule. -Vary the lengths even more, i.e from 2m to 10cm. The largest the length the higher accuracy result would be produced. A small length would be interesting to observe what happen at a small time period. -Use a light gate to time when the pendulum has swung past the centre point rather than eyesight. This would completely reduce the error involving not only reaction time but also the error of knowing exactly when it had reached the mid point. References: [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_harmonic_motion

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