Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

Simple & Compound Pendulums

I- Introduction:
Simple pendulum is simply a concentrated mass " attached to one of the ends of a mass-less cord of length l, while the other end is fitted as a point of oscillation, such that the mass is free to oscillate about that fixed point in the vertical plane. The compound pendulum differs from the simple one in that it has a mass distribution along its length -that is its mass is not concentrated at a given point-, therefore it has a mass moment of inertia # about its mass centre. Any rigid body that has a mass ", and mass moment of inertia # and suspended at a given distance h from its centre of gravity represents a compound pendulum. It should be realised in the derivation of the governing equations, that the angle of oscillation of the pendulum, simple or compound, should be small.

II- Objectives:
This experiment aims at studying the behaviour of both simple and compound pendulums, in order to realise the following ob ectives! "# The independence of the period of oscillation of the simple pendulum from its mass. $# The relationship between the period of oscillation and its length. %# The determination of the value of the gravitational acceleration g, to be compared with the &nown standard value.

III- System Description:

Part One- Simple Pendulum:
The schematic representation of the simple pendulum is shown in Figure!1.1! a, which consists of a small ball of mass " suspended by a mass-less cord of length l. The system is given an initial small angular displacement , and as a result the pendulum oscillates in the vertical plane by a time varying angle $t% with the vertical direction.

Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

Part Two- Compound Pendulum:

The compound pendulum is schematically shown in Figure!1.&!b below, and it consists of a uniform slender bar of total mass " and length l, which may be suspended at various points along the bar with the aid of a sliding pivot situated at any distance h from the centre of gravity of the pendulum. $For this case, the centre o' "ass is at the "iddle o' the rod%. As a result of an initial angular displacement , the pendulum oscillates also with a time-varying angle $t% with the vertical direction.

* neutral position neutral position &od 'l(m)

* %

l Centre o+ ,ravity C, m

l#$

'a) Simple Pendulum

Fi ure-!"! Sche"atic representation o' the $a%si"ple pendulu" $b%co"pound pendulu"

'b) Compound Pendulum

Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

I-- ,overnin ./uations:

Part One - Simple Pendulum:
The dynamic equilibrium equation $e(uation o' "otion% corresponding to the tangential direction of motion of the concentrated mass yields!
+"g sin ) =' "l)

$1%

Assuming small magnitude for the angle , so that sin , and simplifying e(n!1 leads to the equation!
+ g = ' l

$&%

(et the motion defined by the function $t% be a simple harmonic motion defined as )t # = sin n t , where n is the natural frequency of the pendulum. Substituting for in e(n!& and simplifying gives n as!
n =
g l

$*%

The period of oscillation , is defined as the time required to complete one full cycle of motion or one oscillation. *y observing the function $t%, the period is given as!
=
$ l = $ n g

$+%

Part Two- Compound Pendulum:

+or the compound pendulum, the dynamic equilibrium equation is obtained by ta&ing the moments about pivot point as given below!
+ "gh sin = ' #

$,%

where, # is the mass moment of inertia of the rod about the pivot point .
3

Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

Assuming small angle of oscillation and simple harmonic motion for $t%, leads to the following expressions for the natural frequency n and period , respectively!
n =
"gh #

$-%

= $

# "gh

$.%

The mass moment of inertia about the pivot point # , is defined in terms of the mass moment of inertia about the centre of gravity #/0 and the distance h between the centre of gravity and the pivot point as!
# = # /0 + "h $

$1%

or
$ # = ") 2 /0 + h$ #

$3%

where, 2/0 is the radius of gyration of the rod about the centre of gravity. -sing e(ns!. & 3, then the period of oscillation of the compound pendulum is given by the expression!
= $
$ 2 0/ + h$ gh

$14%

Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

-- .0perimental Procedures:
Part One- Simple Pendulum:
Steel and plastic balls are used separately in this experiment as follows! "# Attach the cord to the steel ball at one end, and attach the other end to the main frame. .ecord the length of the cord l. $# /isplace the ball form its neutral position by a small amount, and then release it to oscillate freely. 0easure and record the time 5 required to complete ten oscillations. %# Ad ust the cord length to a new value and repeat step-$. 1# .epeat Step-% six more times so that eight pairs of l and 5 are recorded. 2# .eplace the steel ball with the plastic ball and repeat steps-" through 1.

Part Two- Compound Pendulum:

The experimental procedures for the compound pendulum part are carried out through the following steps! "# 0easure and record the total length l of the rod. Since the rod is uniform, the geometrical centre point coincides with the rod3s centre of gravity /0. $# 4ivot the rod at an arbitrary point , and measure the distance from that point to the centre of gravity h. /isplace the rod by a small angle from its neutral position and release it freely, then measure and record the time required to complete ten oscillations 5. %# 5hange the pivoting point and repeat step-$. 1# .epeat step-% eight more times so that ten pairs of h and 5 are recorded.

Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

-I- Collected Data:

Part One- Simple Pendulum:
Table-!"! /ollected data 'or the si"ple pendulu" part

Trial ! $ 4 5 6 7 8 9

Steel 3all l 'cm) T 'second)

Plastic 3all l 'cm) T 'second)

Part Two- Compound Pendulum:

l 1 2222cm
Table-!"$ /ollected data 'or the co"pound pendulu" part

Trial 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

% (cm)

T (second)

Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

-II- Data Processin :

Part One- Simple Pendulum:
-se e(n!+!
= $
l g

6valuate the theoretical period 5heor corresponding to each length l. /raw & versus l as shown in Figure!1.&.

The values of 5heor are to be compared with the experimental values Exper. Slope 7
1 $ g

Square both sides of e(n!+ to get!

7 $ = 16 $ l g

g is found and compared to the standard value.

Part Two- Compound Pendulum:

Square e(n!14 and rearrange to get!
1 $ $ $h = 2 /0 + h $ g

/raw &h versus h& as shown in Figure!1.*.

"- Slope 7

1 $ g

find g and compare it to the standard value. $- Intercept with the vertical axis
1 $ $ 8#nt = g 2 /0

+rom e(n!14!
= $
2 /0 + h $ gh
$

/raw versus h as that in Figure!1.+. /etermine the values of "in and h.

2/0 is obtained. %- Intercept with the hori8ontal $ axis 9 #nt = 2 /0 2/0 is verified. +ind "in and the corresponding value of h. 5ompare the values of "in and h obtained from both, Figure! 1.+ and e(n!11.

/ifferentiate e(n!14 to find that at h : 2/0 , the value of "in is given by!
min =
9 $ 2 /0 g

$11%

Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

-III- &esults:
Part One- Simple Pendulum:
Table-!"4 Data processing anal;sis 'or the si"ple pendulu" part

Trial ! $ 4 5 6 7 8 9

l 'cm)

Steel 3all .0per T%eor 'second) 'second)

' .0per")$ 'second)$

Percent .rror '% )

Table-!"5 Data processing anal;sis 'or the si"ple pendulu" part

Trial ! $ 4 5 6 7 8 9

l 'cm)

Plastic 3all .0per T%eor 'second) 'second)

' .0per")$ 'second)$

Percent .rror '% )

Table-!"6 Data processing results 'or the si"ple pendulu" part.

:uantity
Steel 3all Plastic 3all

Slope +rom Fi ure-!"$:

'm#s$)

Percenta e .rror o+ '% )

Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

Part Two- Compound Pendulum:

Table-!"7 Data processing anal;sis 'or the co"pound pendulu" part

Trial 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

% (cm)

(second)

%$ (cm)2

$% (cm.sec2)

Table-!"8 Data processing results 'or the co"pound pendulu" part

Slope 'sec" #m) ;Int 'sec$"m) =Int 'm$)

From Fi ure-!"4 'm$#sec") <C, 'cm) <C, 'cm)

Percent .rror '% )

Percent .rror '% )

From Fi ure-!"5 min 'sec") % at 1 min 'cm)

From ./n-!! min 'sec") % 'cm)

Percent .rror '% ) Percent .rror '% )

Mech. Vibrations Lab. Manual, Exp. # 1 Farha.

Dr. M. Dado, Eng. M. Shaban & F. bu!

I=- Discussion *nd Conclusions:

"# :hat do we mean by <Si"ple =ar"onic Motion> $S=M%;

$# :hy did we use two masses with identical geometries for the simple pendulum experiment;

%# :hat is the physical meaning of h being equal to 8ero; :hat is the corresponding period of oscillation;

1# :hy does the compound pendulum have the identity of possessing two values of h corresponding to the same period of oscillation ;

2# *ased on the equation of motion, what is the difference between the simple and compound pendulums; <ow can we replace the compound pendulum with a simple pendulum having the same period of oscillation;

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