AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 2
Fall 2021-2022
Section: H, Group: 03

LAB REPORT ON
To determine the acceleration due to gravity by means of a compound pendulum

Supervised By
Md. Masud Parvez

Submitted By
Name ID Contribution
1. Kangkhita Zaman Urbee 20-43656-2 I have done the data table, theoretical part,
result and procedure of this lab report.
2. Limia Sadina Sathi 20-43851-2 I have written the apparatus, result, graph,
calculation and discussion of the lab report.
3. Md. Shoaib Khan Chowdhury 20-43731-2 I have done the graph, experimental data,
calculation and discussion part of this lab
report.
4. Maliha Tasnuva 20-43852-2 I have completed the theoretical part, result,
references, procedure, analysis and
calculation of the lab report.
5. Nuzhat Tanzina Prova 20-43869-2 I have written the procedure, experimental
data, theoretical part and graph of the lab
report.

Date of Submission: September 22, 2021

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1
II. Table of Content 2
1. Theory 3-5
2. Apparatus 5
3. Procedure 6
4. Experimental Data 7-9
5. Analysis and Calculation 9-10
6. Result 10
7. Discussion 10
8. References 10

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 2 of 10

1. Theory
A simple pendulum consists of a small body called a “bob” (usually a sphere) attached to the end of a
string the length of which is great compared with the dimensions of the bob and the mass of which is
negligible in comparison with that of the bob. Under these conditions the mass of the bob may be
regarded as concentrated at its center of gravity, and the length of the pendulum is the distance of this
point from the axis of suspension. When the dimensions of the suspended body are not negligible in
comparison with the distance from the axis of suspension to the center of gravity, the pendulum is called
a compound, or physical, pendulum. A rigid body mounted upon a horizontal axis so as to vibrate under
the force of gravity is a compound pendulum.

In Fig.1 a body of irregular shape is pivoted about a horizontal frictionless axis through P and is
displaced from its equilibrium position by an angle θ. In the equilibrium position the center of gravity
G of the body is vertically below P. The distance GP is l and the mass of the body is m. The restoring
torque for an angular displacement θ is

𝜏 = −𝑚𝑔𝑙 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ….(1)

For small amplitudes (θ ≈ 0),

𝑑2 𝜃
𝐼 𝑑𝑡 2 = −𝑚𝑔𝑙𝜃 …(2)

where I is the moment of inertia of the body through the axis P.

Eq. (2) represents a simple harmonic motion and hence the time

period of oscillation is given by

𝐼
𝑇 = 2𝜋√𝑚𝑔𝑙 ….(3)

Now 𝐼 = 𝐼𝐺 + 𝑚𝑙2, where IG is the moment of inertia of the

body about an axis parallel with axis of oscillation and passing

through the center of gravity G.

IG = mK2 ….(4)

where K is the radius of gyration about the axis passing through G. Thus,

𝐾2
𝑚𝐾2 +𝑚𝑙 2 +𝑙
𝑇= 2𝜋√ 𝑚𝑔𝑙 = 2𝜋√ 𝑙
𝑔
….(5)

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 3 of 10

The time period of a simple pendulum of length L, is given by

𝐿
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ .… (6)
𝑔

Comparing with Eq. (5) we get

𝐾2
𝐿=𝑙+ …. (7)
𝑙

This is the length of “equivalent simple pendulum”. If all the mass of the body were concentrated at a point O
𝐾2
(See Fig.1) such that 𝑂𝑃 = + 𝑙 , we would have a simple pendulum with the same time period. The point O is
𝑙

called the ‘Centre of Oscillation’. Now from Eq. (7)

𝑙 2 − 𝑙𝐿 + 𝐾 2 = 0 .... (8)

i.e. a quadratic equation in l. Equation 6 has two roots l1 and l2 such that

𝑙1 + 𝑙2 = 𝐿 and

𝑙1𝑙2 = 𝐾2 …. (9)

Thus both 𝑙1 and 𝑙2 are positive. This means that on one side of C.G there are two positions of the centre of
suspension about which the time periods are the same. Similarly, there will be a pair of positions of the centre of
suspension on the other side of the C.G about which the time periods will be the same. Thus there are four positions
of the centers of suspension, two on either side of the C.G, about which the time periods of the pendulum would
be the same. The distance between two such positions of the centers of suspension, asymmetrically located on
either side of C.G, is the length L of the simple equivalent pendulum. Thus, if the body was supported on a parallel
axis through the point O (see Fig. 1), it would oscillate with the same time period T as when supported at P. Now
it is evident that on either side of G, there are infinite numbers of such pair of points satisfying Eq. (9). If the body
is supported by an axis through G, the time period of oscillation would be infinite. From any other axis in the
body the time period is given by Eq. (5). From Eq.(6) and (9), the value of g and K are given by

𝐿
𝑔 = 4𝜋 2 𝑇 2 …. (10)

𝐾 = √𝑙1 𝑙2 …. (11)

By determining L, 𝑙1 and 𝑙2 graphically for a particular value of T, the acceleration due to gravity g at that place
and the radius of gyration K of the compound pendulum can be determined

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 4 of 10

Description:

The bar pendulum consists of a metallic bar of about one meter long. A series of circular holes each of
approximately 5 mm in diameter are made along the length of the bar. The bar is suspended from a
horizontal knife-edge passing through any of the holes (Fig. 2). The knifeedge, in turn, is fixed in a
platform provided with the screws. By adjusting the rear screw the platform can be made horizontal.

Fig: 2 (Bar Pendulum)

2. Apparatus
(i) A bar pendulum
(ii) A knife–edge with a platform
(iii) A precision stopwatch
(iv) A meter scale

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 5 of 10

 3. Procedure

(i) We have suspended the bar using the knife edge of the hook through a hole nearest to one
end of the bar. With the bar at rest, focus a telescope so that the vertical cross-wire of the
telescope is coincident with the vertical mark on the bar.

(ii) The bar is allowed to oscillate in a vertical plane with small amplitude (within 40 of arc).

(iii) We have noted the time for 20 oscillations by a precision stop-watch by observing the
transits of the vertical line on the bar through the telescope. We have made this observation
three times and find the mean time t for 20 oscillations. The time period T has been
determined.

(iv) We have measured the distance d of the axis of the suspension, i.e. the hole from one of the
edges of the bar by a meter scale.

(v) We have repeated operation (i) to (iv) for the other holes till C.G of the bar is approached
where the time period becomes very large.

(vi) The bar is inverted and we have repeated operations (i) to (v) for each hole starting from
the extreme top.

(vii) A graph is drawn with the distance d of the holes as abscissa and the time period T as
ordinate. The nature of graph will be as shown in Fig.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 6 of 10

4. Experimental Data
Table 1: Observation for the time period and the distance of the point of suspension from CG for End-
A.

Hole No. Distance From Time for 20 Mean Time t Period

CG Oscillations (sec)
T = t/20
(sec)
L (cm) (sec)

1 45 (1) 25.27 24.495 1.633

(2) 23.72

2 40 (1) 23.03 23.06 1.588

(2) 23.09

3 35 (1) 22.90 22.905 1.517

(2) 22.91

4 30 (1) 22.76 22.545 1.503

(2) 22.33

5 25 (1) 22.48 22.665 1.511

(2) 22.85

6 20 (1) 22.34 22.725 1.545

(2) 23.11

7 15 (1) 22.06 22.78 1.583

(2) 23.50

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 7 of 10

Table 2: Observation for the time period and the distance of the point of suspension from CG for End-
B.

Hole No. Distance From Time for 20 Mean Time t Period

CG Oscillations (sec)
T = t/20
(sec)
L (cm) (sec)

1 45 (1) 23.34 23.37 1.558

(2) 23.40

2 40 (1) 22.92 22.87 1.524

(2) 22.82

3 35 (1) 22.52 22.485 1.499

(2) 22.45

4 30 (1) 22.36 22.15 1.483

(2) 22.14

5 25 (1) 23.19 22.85 1.475

(2) 22.51

6 20 (1) 23.45 23.01 1.505

(2) 22.57

7 15 (1) 23.23 23.145 1.535

(2) 23.06

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 8 of 10

Graph:

L vs T Graph
1.66

1.64

1.62

1.6

1.58

1.56

1.54

A B C D
1.52
AC =63
1.5

1.48 BD =52

1.46
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
Distance, L (cm)

5. Analysis and Calculation

Length AC = 63 cm, Length BD = 52 cm.

𝐴𝐶+𝐵𝐷 63+52
Mean length, 𝐿 = 2
= 2
= 57.5 cm.

Equivalent length of compound pendulum, L = 57.5 cm.

Equivalent time period of compound pendulum, T = 1.52 sec.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 9 of 10

Calculation:
𝐿
𝑔 = 4𝜋 2 𝑇 2

4×𝜋2 ×57.5
= (1.52)2

= 982.52 cm/s2.

6. Result
The acceleration due to gravity is g = 982.52 cm/s2.

7. Discussion
i. We ensured that the pendulum oscillated in a vertical plane and that there was no
rotational motion of the pendulum.
ii. The amplitude of the oscillation was kept within 4° of arc.
iii. A precision stopwatch was used and the time was noted as accurately as possible.
iv. We made sure that there was no air current in the vicinity of the pendulum.

8. References
i. Fundamentals of Physics: Resnick & Halliday
ii. Practical Physics: Dr. Giasuddin Ahmad & Md. Shahabuddin, M. Sc. M. A.
iii. Lab Manual
iv. Lab Video

Lab Report Department of Physics 10 of 10