Ryan Jacob C.

Agdon

July 20, 2015

BSE 31

July 20, 2015

Experiment No. 2
Simple Harmonic Motion
(The Simple Pendulum)

ABSTRACT
A simple pendulum (SP) is a small body suspended by a cord of
negligible mass. In this experiment, we studied simple harmonic motion by
the used of simple pendulum.
In this experiment, we used several materials that is really reliable and
effective in this experiment. We also used several formulas for us to
compute the period, angular frequency, linear frequency, and other more.
Based on our result, we get a very low percentage errors that simply
indicates that we got an accurate measurements and a successful
experiment.
I recommend to the future researchers that when they do this
experiment, make it accurate, follow the procedures, and bring a lot of
patience in counting and computing. Through these steps, I know your
experiment will be successful too.

OBJECTIVES
1) Study the SHM using the simple pendulum.
2) Make an experimental determination of the magnitude of
acceleration due to gravity.
MATERIALS AND SET-UP
1.5 meter light string

Small bob (spherical object)

Iron stand with horizontal bar extension Vernier Caliper

Stopwatch

Meter stick and ruler

Protractor or Angle Indicator

Triple Beam Balance

DATA AND RESULTS

Mass of the bob
Length of the string
Diameter of the bob
Angular displacement

m
l
d

=
=
=
=

15.5 g
82.6 cm
3.55 cm
10

r = 1.775 cm

Table 1. Length of pendulum, Time per vibration, Period, % error,

frequency, angular frequency
Length of
Pendulum
(cm)
80 + r
60 + r
40 + r
20 + r
80 + r
30

Average Time
for 50
Vibrations
94.78 s
80 s
67.48 s
48.10 s
94.57 s

Period, T
(sec)
EV
TV
1.90 s
1.82
1.60 s
1.58
1.36 s
1.30
0.96 s
0.94
1.89
1.81

Period2, T2
(sec2)
EV
TV
2
3.61 sec
3.31 sec2
2.56 sec2
2.5 sec2
1.85 sec2 1.69 sec2
0.92 sec2 0.88 sec2
3.57 sec2 3.31 sec2

s
s
s
s
s

continuation of table 1
Linear
frequency, f
(Hz)
EV
TV
0.53
0.54
0.63
0.63
0.73
0.76
1.04
1.05
0.53
0.54

COMPUTATIONS
L=l+r

80 cm+1.78 cm

Angular
frequency,
(rad/s)
EV
TV
3.33
3.46
3.96
3.98
4.59
4.84
6.53
6.71
3.33
3.46

% error
T
4.4 %
1.27 %
4.62 %
2.34 %
3.85 %

T2
9/06 %
2.4 %
9.47 %
4.54 %
7.85 %

f
1.85 %
0%
3.95 %
0.95 %
1.85 %

3.76
0.50
5.17
2.68
3.76

%
%
%
%
%

 81.78 cm 0.8178 m

UNKNOWN
PERIOD T

EXPERIMENTAL VALUE
average time
T EV =
50

THEORETICAL VALUE
L
T TV =2
g

94.78 s
50

1.90 s

0.8178 m
m
9.8 kg 2
s

1.82 s

PERIOD

T2

LINEAR
FREQUENCY
(Hz)

T Ev =1.902

T Ev =1.602

3.61 s2

2.56 s 2

f EV =

50 vib
time

f TV =

50 vib
94.78 s

0.53 Hz

( 12 ) Lg

( 12 )

m
s2
81.78 cm

9.8 kg

0.54 Hz

ANGULAR
FREQUENCY

EV =2 f EV

TV =

2 ( 0.53 Hz )

g
L

m
s2

81.78 cm

3.33 rad /s

9.8 kg

3.46 rad /s

PERCENTAGE
ERROR

*Linear frequency (60 +r)

% error =

TV EV
x 100
TV

0.630.63
x 100
0.63

=0%

Based on the data recorded, plot the curve to show the relationships
between the Period, T (ordinate) and length of the pendulum, L (abscissa).
GRAPH 1. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERIOD (T) AND LENGTH OF
THE PENDULUM (L)
(EV)

Based on the data recorded, plot the curve to show the relationships
between the square of the Period, T2 (ordinate) and length of the pendulum,
L (abscissa).

GRAPH 2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SQUARE OF THE PERIOD ( T

AND THE LENGTH OF PENDULUM (L)

Compute the value of g, the acceleration due to gravity from the slope
of the graph in question no.2.
L
T 2 =4 2 ( )
g

g=

4 2 L
T2

2
4 ( 0.8178 m )

3.61 s 2

Acceleration due to the gravity from the slope of the graph.

m
8.94 2
s

g = 9.8

m
2
s

g (slope of the graph) =

m
8.94 s 2

% error =

TV EV
x 100
TV

m
m
8.94 2
2
s
s
x 100
m
0.639.8 2
s

9.8

From the acceleration due to the gravity, g; is smaller than the

m
m
standard value f g, 8.94 s 2 and 9.8 s 2 respectively.
It only shows that there are other factors affecting the movement of
the gravity of the earth. We think that it is the string or the tension applied
that causes the mere difference of the standard value of g from the value of
g found in the graph.

Compare the period when the angle is over 30 to that of the period
10.
Period in = 30

= 1.81 (EV) and 1.89 (TV)

Period in = 10

= 1.90 (EV) and 1.82 (TV)

Based on the results and even when the experiment was executed, it
was observed that having a smaller angle, like 10 , has a longer period
than of that of = 30 . This is because it affects the distance/

displacement of travel of the bob, the smaller the , the farther the starting
point and the longer the displacement and travel.

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

In mechanics and physics, simple harmonic motion is a type of periodic
motion where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement
and acts in the direction opposite to that of displacement. Simple harmonic
motion can serve as a mathematical model of a variety of motions, such as
the oscillation of a spring. In addition, other phenomena can be
approximated by simple harmonic motion, including the motion of a simple
pendulum as well as molecular vibration. Simple harmonic motion is typified
by the motion of a mass on a spring when it is subject to the linear elastic
restoring force given by Hooke's Law. The motion is sinusoidal in time and
demonstrates a single resonant frequency. In order for simple harmonic
motion to take place, the net force of the object at the end of the pendulum
must be proportional to the displacement.
Simple harmonic motion provides a basis for the characterization of
more complicated motions through the techniques of Fourier analysis.
In the small-angle approximation, the motion of a simple pendulum is
approximated by simple harmonic motion. The period of a mass attached to
a pendulum of length with gravitational acceleration g.
This shows that the period of oscillation is independent of the
amplitude and mass of the pendulum but not the acceleration due to gravity
(g), therefore a pendulum of the same length on the Moon would swing
more slowly due to the Moon's lower gravitational field strength.
This approximation is accurate only for small angles because of the
expression for angular acceleration being proportional to the sine of the
displacement angle:

where I is the moment of inertia. When is small, sin and

therefore the expression becomes

which makes angular acceleration directly proportional to , satisfying

the definition of simple harmonic motion.

A simple pendulum (SP) is a small body suspended by a cord of

negligible mass. When it is placed from its equilibrium position and released,
it will execute a periodic motion. If the arc of displacement is small, the
motion is approximately simple harmonic motion (SHM) with period T given
by:
L
T =2
g

Where L is the length of the pendulum, g is the magnitude of

acceleration due to gravity. Squaring both sides of the equation, we have
T 2 =4 2

L
g

This is the equation of a straight line in a (period) 2 length curve

whose slope is 42/g. Thus the (period)2 length curve of a simple harmonic
motion will give us the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity g.
Knowing the length of the pendulum, the angular frequency and the
linear frequency of the pendulum can be determined.
=

g
L

; and

( 12 ) gL

f=

Based on the result that weve got, we did the experiment accurately
and based on what the experiment want us to achieve! We really got the
learning objectives that this experiment want us to have.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Studying simple harmonic motion through the used of simple
pendulum is a nice way for us future teachers because through this, we can
easily understand it and eventually, we can also use this experiment when
we go the field and will be teaching to our future students.
I recommend to the future researchers that in studying simple
harmonic motion, patience is really required. Patience to the counting that
you will be doing to the pendulum. And patience to the computations that

you will be doing for you to get the linear frequency, angular frequency,
frequency, and period. And after getting all of those things, you will be now
getting the percentage error for you to check if your results are efficient.

ANSWER TO THE GUIDE QUESTIONS

1 Is the period dependent on the length of the pendulum? Explain.
- Yes. When the length is changed, the pendulum will take more
or less time to oscillate, depending on its length and acceleration
due to gravity. Therefore, the period may be varied by changing
either of these two factors. Since acceleration due to gravity is
constant on Earth, the only dependent factor is the length of the
pendulum.
-For example, the Grandfather clock. The manufacturer of the
grandfather clocks should vary the length of the pendulum string
to obtain the desired period. Therefore, he or she may ascertain
the exact length of the string to achieve a period of exactly one
second to ensure the clocks accuracy and usefulness.

2 Would the mass of the bob affect the period of the pendulum? Explain.
- This may seem a bit strange, but the mass of the pendulum
has no effect on the period. The time it takes for one cycle is
solely dependent on the length of the string and the acceleration
of gravity. Since gravity is always the same here on earth, the
string length is the only quality we can really play with in order
to change the period of the pendulum. The mass has no effect.
You may have a 100kg pendulum and a 1kg pendulum and they
will have the same period as long as the lengths of their strings
are the same.
- In principle, the period of the pendulum is independent of the
mass of the bob, but that assumes that the mass of the
supporting structure is negligible, which is never quite true, and
that air resistance is zero, which it never quite is. So the full
answer is that as the mass of the bob increases in proportion to
the mass of the rope or chain, etc, the period will lengthen, and
will more and more closely approximate the theoretical period
for a pendulum of a given length. Similarly, as the mass

increases - assuming the profile does not increase proportionally

- the effect of air resistance on the acceleration of the bob
decreases, and so again, the pendulum tends to move at a
period determined only by its length. So this dynamic will tend to
shorten the period. The resulting change will be a combination of
these two factors.

3 A 100 gram sphere executes a simple harmonic motion with the

frequency of 20 Hz and amplitude of 0.5 cm. What is:
a the constant k for the restoring force acting on it?
-

k
m

=2 f
2 ( 20 Hz )

k =2 m
( 125.66 Hz2 ) ( 0.1 kg )
1579.04

125.66 Hz

N
m

b the maximum acceleration?

-

max a=

KA
m
N
)(0.005 m)
m
0.1 kg

(1579.04

78.95

m
s

c the total energy at any point of the motion?

-

TE=

K A2
2

(1579.04

N
)(0.005 m)2
m
2

(1579.04

N
2
)(0.000025 m )
m
2

0.02 joules

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF REFERENCES:

Walker, Jearl (2011). Principles of Physics (9th ed.). Hoboken, N.J. :

Wiley. ISBN 0-470-56158-0.
Thornton, Stephen T.; Marion, Jerry B. (2003). Classical Dynamics
of Particles and Systems (5th ed.). Brooks Cole. ISBN 0-53440896-6.
John R Taylor (2005). Classical Mechanics. University Science
Books. ISBN 1-891389-22-X.
Grant R. Fowles, George L. Cassiday (2005). Analytical Mechanics
(7th ed.). Thomson Brooks/Cole. ISBN 0-534-49492-7.
Pendulum [Internet] Available at
http://visual.physics.tamu.edu/Proposal/lab7_20346.pdf
Pendulum inquiries [Internet] Available at
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?
qid=20100427132238AAJR4GM