UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
SAMPLE PRACTICAL TEST W
TIME ALLOCATED: max 90 minutes in total 30 MARKS
(a) AIM AND OBJECTIVE
In this experiment you will determine the radius of gyration and acceleration due to gravity
through measurement of the oscillations of a compound pendulum.
(b) APPARATUS AND METHOD
You are provided with a rectangular bar of uniform density, with length, L, and breadth, B,
and a meter rule.
Figure a) Compound Pendulum b) Expected shape of graph
(c) TASKS
1. Ensure that the pendulum is not obstructed in any way at the suspension point.
2. Carefully set the pendulum into oscillation (at an angle ≤ 5° from equilibrium), without
dislodging it at the suspension point.
3. You need to measure the time for 10 complete oscillations for the following values of l: 5,
10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 cm. For the sake of time, some
of the values have been pre-filled. Copy the given values and complete the missing values
in Table 1 with your measured values.
Note: You will need to flip the pendulum over for the measurements for lengths 55 to 95 cm.
REMOVE THE PENDULUM FROM IT’S PIVOT AND PLACE IT ON THE
TABLE BESIDE THE RULER AFTER TAKING YOUR MEASUREMENTS.
Table 1: Time and period of oscillation for compound pendulum
Length, l (cm) t1 (secs) t2 (secs) tavg (secs) T (s)
5± 16.02
10 ± 15.67
15 ± 15.26 15.33
20 ± 15.17 15.31
25 ± 15.25 15.37
30 ± 15.57 15.76
35 ±
40 ± 19.34 15.36
45 ± 27.33 26.47
55 ± 27.34 27.37
60 ± 19.12 19.32
65 ±
70 ± 15.53 15.72
75 ± 15.15 15.38
80 ± 15.14 15.21
85 ± 15.33 15.29
90 ± 15.56 15.67
95 ± 15.97
4. Draw a graph for T as a function of l similar to the graph shown in the figure above. Fit a
curve through your data. Note: Choose an appropriate scale. It is not necessary for your
graph to start at origin, 0.
5. The length of any equivalent simple pendulum corresponding to any period is determined
by drawing a straight line parallel to the x-axis from the given period, cutting the graph at
four points P, Q, R and S. The equivalent length at any period is determined from the
graph as PR and QS. Note: The equivalent length is not gotten by using a ruler.
6. Determine the average length, given by (PR + QS)/2, at any 3 different Periods, T, and
complete the table below.
7. Determine the value of g for each period (using the formula below) and find the mean
value of g. This is your g using method 1.
4𝜋 % 𝑙
𝑔=
𝑇%
Length of equivalent simple pendulum (cm)
Period, T g
Length PR Length QS Average length, l (s) (ms-2)
(unit) (unit) (unit)
Mean:
8. Find the radius of gyration, KG, of the pendulum about its centre of mass. This is the
average of TO and OU.
9. Determine, g, from the radius of gyration using the formula: 𝑔 = 4𝜋 % ( %)*/ 0. This is
+ ,-.
your g using method 2.
Where: Tmin is the period at point where the tangent to the two branches of the graph,
TU, crosses the Y-axis.
10. Why is it important to ensure that your displacement angle is not more than 50?
11. What are the sources of error in this experiment?
12. Consider a point 0.23 m from the edge of the pendulum. What will be the period at this
point?
ENSURE YOUR NAME AND STUDENT NUMBER ARE ON ANY GRAPHS
