DETERMINATION OF THE ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY THROUGH A SIMPLE PENDULUM

Adorable, Charlene S.; Kathleen Trisha O.; Galera, Kate Coleen D.

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry,
College of Arts and Sciences,
University of the Philippines Visayas
leecharlenestyles@gmail.com, kathleentrisha25@gmail.com, galerakate@gmail.com

Abstract between the square of the period of oscillations to

Acceleration is defined as the rate at which
the velocity of a moving object changes with time.
This experiment aimed to verify the relationship
between period and amplitude, length and period.
The periods of a simple pendulum were timed and
recorded for each of the nine variations in the
amplitude and length of the pendulum. It was
observed that as amplitude and length of the
pendulum decreases, the time period also decreases.
The period, T, was associated with the slope of the
graph as a function of amplitude and period squared,
T2, and as a function of the string length, L. The
experimental value of gravity, g, was 9.801 m/s2 with
uncertainty of 0.20 and percent error of 0.01 %.
Introduction
A pendulum is just a mass suspended on the
end of the attached string that is free to swing. It was
developed by Galileo Galilei at around 1602 and
discovered the key property that make pendulums
useful timekeeper that is “the period of pendulum is
approximately independent of amplitude of its swing,
so that successive swings of pendulum will take the
same amount of time even if the swing is decreasing
due to friction.” He also found that the period of
pendulum is independent of the mass of its bob and
the length of the pendulum. Sources of error for this
procedure included precision in both length and time
measurement tools, reaction time of the stopwatch
holder, and the accuracy of the stopwatch. The final
result of gravity, g, takes into account the correction
for the error introduced using the approximation.
There are opportunities to correct for the effects of
mass distribution, air buoyancy and string stretching.
The experiment aimed to measure the acceleration
due to gravity using a simple pendulum and also to
compare the experimental results to the actual or
theoretical values.
Theory
The relationship between period, the length
of the string and gravitational acceleration can be
expressed as:
𝐿
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ (1)
𝑔
where, T = period;
L = length of the string (m); and
g = acceleration due to gravity on earth
(9.8 m/s2)
The acceleration due to gravity is then found
using:
𝐿
𝑔 = 4𝜋 2 (2)
𝑇2

proportional to square root of its length. The study of

the motion of the simple pendulum provided valuable where, T = period; and
insights into the gravitational force. The experiment L = length of the string (m)
was of value since the gravitational force is one all
people continuously experience and the collection The estimated fractional uncertainty on the
and analysis of data proved to be a rewarding learning gravitational acceleration is equal to:
experience in error analysis. Furthermore, this
𝜎𝑔 𝜎 2 𝜎 2
experiment tested a mathematical model for the = √( 𝐿 ) + 4 ( 𝑇 ) (3)
𝑔 𝐿 𝑇
value of gravity that that makes use of the small-angle
approximation and the proportional relationship where, T = period ;
 L = length of the string (m);
g = acceleration due to gravity on earth
(9.8 m/s2);
𝜎𝑔 = lower case sigma, standard deviation
of gravitational acceleration, g;
𝜎𝐿 = lower case sigma, standard deviation of
the length of the string (m); and
𝜎𝑇 = lower case sigma, standard deviation
of period, T.
Methodology
The materials that were used during the
conduct of the experiment included a simple
pendulum, a meter stick, a protractor, and a
stopwatch. As seen in Figure 1, the pendulum
apparatus was set up in an iron stand, attached to it
was a 50 cm string. The length of the string could be
adjusted, so to avoid to avoid errors, it was securely
tied in the iron bar and the precise point of oscillation
was fixed, which also connected a protractor to the
iron bar.
Figure 1. Experiment Set-up
Lengths for the pendulum were taken using
a meter stick. The total length was measured by
holding the meter stick up against the iron stand, and
measuring from the pivot point to the bottom of the
weights. The bottom was determined by holding a
ruler horizontally against the bottom of the weights.
The meter stick measurements had an uncertainty of
0.10m. Time measurements were made using a
stopwatch. For measuring the first swing the starting
time was determined by holding the weights in one
hand by the first experimenter and the stopwatch in
the other hand of the second experimenter. The
releasing of weights and pushing Start must be
simultaneously done. The stopping point, and starting
point for the second oscillation, was determined by
watching the weights and pushing Stop/Start when
the weights appeared to reach the top of the swing
and stop. The precision of the time measurements
were affected by reaction time and perception of
starting and stopping points of the experimenter
taking the measurements. Time measurements were
taken by the same person to keep the uncertainty in
reaction time consistent. In order to improve the
reliability and to obtained information about the
variability of the results, three trials were made for
each varying amplitude (5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15
degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees, 35
degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees) and also three trials
for each varying length (20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, 50 cm,
60 cm, 70 cm, 80 cm, 90cm, 100cm).
Results and Discussion
The result for gravitational acceleration, g,
obtained from both measured values of length, L, and
Period, T, from equation 1 as well as from the slope in
the Linear Fit graph, T2, Figure 5 (see Appendix D)
agree with the accepted results for g. The precision
could be improved by corrections for effects of mass
distribution, air buoyancy and string stretching.
Table 1. Period measurements at different Amplitudes
Degrees 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Average
13.95 14.13 14.13 14.21 14.24 14.31 14.56 14.66 14.73
Period of 10
Oscillations
(s)
Average
1.395 1.413 1.413 1.421 1.424 1.431 1.456 1.466 1.473
Period of
Oscillation
(s)
By measuring 10 oscillations the average
period is determined by dividing by 10 and this helps
reduce the error since the error propagation will
provide an uncertainty in the period that is the
uncertainty in the time measurement divided by 10.
From Table 1 and Figure 4 (see Appendix D),
the limits of the small angle approximation are
shown. Between 30 and 40 degrees the theoretical
model begins to breakdown and the measured period
deviates from the theoretical value. Measurements
taken at less than 30 degrees will be more accurate
for the small angle approximation model that was
used.
Two methods were used to calculate a value
of gravitational acceleration, g, from the data. The
first method used to calculate a value of g from the
measurements taken is making the calculation from
each of the nine different lengths, using the
measurements shown in Table 3 (see Appendix A) of
10 oscillations at the different lengths, and taking the
average. The calculated average g was (9.802 ± 0.20) References
m/s2.
The second method used was applying a Bauer W, WestFall G. (2011). University Physics.
linear least squares fit to the values of length and the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
accompanying T2. Figure 5 (see Appendix D) shows
this method and gives the values for the fit R.A. Nelson, M.G. Olsson, Am. J. Phys. 54, 112 (1986).
parameters. The value of g is determined by using the
slope of the line and gave a value of g to be (9.801 ± Moose, R.E., The National Geodetic Survey Gravity
0.20) m/s2. Network, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical
The AtronSystems site, which interpolates Report NOS 121 NGS 39, 2006.
the value of gravitational acceleration, g, at a specific
latitude, longitude and elevation from observed Morelli, C.: The International Gravity Standardization
gravity was used to determine an accepted value of g Net 1971, Internation al Association of Geodesy,
for Philippines. The accepted value for g in the Special Publication 4, 2001.
Philippines is (9.7844 ± 0.00002) m/s2.
Comparing the two methods used to B.N. Taylor, the NIST Reference, physics
calculate gravitational acceleration, g, shows that the nist.gov/cuu/Reference/Valuebg, (2010).
least squares linear fit provided a value of
gravitational acceleration, g, that is closer to the Gravitational Acceleration. Retrieved on November
theoretical and accepted values of gravitational 17, 2016 from http://atronsystems.com/docs/LS-
acceleration, g. The calculation of gravitational 100%20Weightless%20Calibration%20P.pdf
acceleration, g, supports the small angle
approximation model that was used. The linear
relationship to length and period squared, T2
provided by the approximation gave a way of
employing a least squares linear fit to the data to
determine a value of gravitational acceleration, g.

Conclusions

The small angle approximation model, which

gives gravitational acceleration, g, as being
proportional to period squared, T2 and length, L, was
supported by the data taken using a simple
pendulum. The value of g taken from the slope of the
least squares linear fit provided a value of g: (9.801 ±
0.20) m/s2, which is within one standard deviation of
the accepted value of gravity in the Philippines:
9.7844 m/s2. The experiment was a good way of
testing the small angle approximation because the
period measured using different starting angles was
consistent for angles less than 30 degrees. Using the
small angle approximation the relationship between
period squared, T2, and length, L, was linear so a least
squares linear fit could be utilized to calculate
gravitational acceleration, g. The value of
gravitational acceleration, g, calculated using the
least squares linear fit could then be compared to the
accepted value of gravitational acceleration , g, for
the location, thus verifying the model that was
employed.