UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN MEKANIKAL

___________________________________________________________________________

Program : Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical (EM220/EM221)

Course : Applied Mechanics Lab
Code : MEC 424
Lecturer : DR. WAN SULAIMAN
Group : EMD4M5A GROUP 5
___________________________________________________________________________

MEC 424 - LABORATORY REPORT

TITLE : Physical Pendulum – Wooden Pendulum

No NAME STUDENT ID SIGNATURE

1. Muhammad Noor Azam 2018695348
2. Muhammad Mikael Azwa 2018435646
3. Muhammad NurAminuddin 2018297734
4. Muhammad Muizzuddin 2018435666
5. Muhammad Amin Asfar 2018410216

LABORATORY SESSION : 11/05/2020

(DATE)

REPORT SUBMISSION : 17/05/2020

(DATE)
*By signing above you attest that you have contributed to this submission and confirm that all work you have contributed to this
submission is your own work. Any suspicion of copying or plagiarism in this work will result in an investigation of academic
misconduct and may result in a “0” on the work, an “F” in the course, or possibly more severe penalties.

Marking Scheme

No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

ABSTRACT
This physical pendulum experiment is implemented to study basic principle involved in
this experiment which is the Moment of Inertia. In this experiment, we have to determine the
mass moment of inertia (at the centre of gravity, I Gand at suspension point, I o) by oscillation of
experimentally and theoretically. Mass moment of inertia to measure the extent to which an
object resists rotational acceleration about a particular axis. The mass moment of inertia is
depending on the period where the period is taken when the physical pendulum is completed it
cycle. For physical pendulum, as the masses increases, the mass moment of inertia decreases
due to the period of oscillation.

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................5
2.0 THEORIES.....................................................................................5
3.0 APPARATUS.................................................................................8
4.0 PROCEDURE................................................................................9
5.0 RESULT.........................................................................................9
6.0 DISCUSSION..............................................................................12
7.0 CONCLUSIONS..........................................................................12
8.0 REFERENCE...............................................................................13
9.0 APPENDICES..............................................................................14
Teamwork Assessment Form...............................................................15

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Forces act through centre of mass...........................................................6
Figure 2: Apparatus.................................................................................................8
Figure 3: Part Label..............................................................................................10
Figure 4: Theoritical content Appendix................................................................14

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Time taken, tave........................................................................................10
Table 2: Moment of Inertia...................................................................................10
Table 3: I at point of rotation................................................................................11
Table 4: Percentage error......................................................................................11

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

1.0 INTRODUCTION
A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely.  When a
pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting, equilibrium position, it is subject to
a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position.
When released, the restoring force acting on the pendulum's mass causes it to oscillate about
the equilibrium position, swinging back and forth. The time for one complete cycle, a left
swing and a right swing, is called the period. The period depends on the length of the
pendulum and also to a slight degree on the amplitude, the width of the pendulum's swing.

The inverted pendulum represents an unstable mechanical system needing to be

equipped with a proper control algorithm for stabilization and positioning requirements. Unlike
the common "rod on cart" inverted pendulum, where a vertical rod is steered by a horizontally-
moving cart attached to its base, the pendulum considered in this experiment consists of a
horizontally-sliding rod attached to the top of the vertical rod. The horizontal rod is steered in
the presence of gravity to balance and position the vertical rod. Two rotary optical encoders are
used to sense the position and velocity of the vertical rod and the sliding rod. The encoders
sense position in discrete increments that are related to the angle and position of the two rods
respectively.

Rigid body dynamics is an area of

physics which is very important for
understanding other
areas of physics, but on the other
hand it is rather difficult for students.
Their main problem lies

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

in accepting and understanding the

physical meaning of the key physical
quantities: torque,
angular momentum and moment of
inertia. This paper presents a simple
experiment with a
physical pendulum for examining
rigid body motion.
The experiment presented below was
motivated by the very neat and
detailed description
of physical pendulum motion given
by Sivukhin in his famous tutorial [1].
The novelty of this
experiment consists in the fact that it
is possible to obtain comprehensive
information about

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

a rigid body from only one obtained

experimental dependence (period of
oscillation versus
position of pivot point) .
Simultaneously, data processing
increases students’ skills in applying
Rigid body dynamics is an area of
physics which is very important for
understanding other
areas of physics, but on the other
hand it is rather difficult for students.
Their main problem lies
in accepting and understanding the
physical meaning of the key physical
quantities: torque,
angular momentum and moment of
inertia. This paper presents a simple
experiment with a

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

physical pendulum for examining

rigid body motion.
The experiment presented below was
motivated by the very neat and
detailed description
of physical pendulum motion given
by Sivukhin in his famous tutorial [1].
The novelty of this
experiment consists in the fact that it
is possible to obtain comprehensive
information about
a rigid body from only one obtained
experimental dependence (period of
oscillation versus
position of pivot point) .
Simultaneously, data processing
increases students’ skills in applying
Rigid body dynamics is an area of physics which is very important for understanding
other areas of physics, but on the other hand it is rather difficult for students. Their main
problem lies in accepting and understanding the physical meaning of the key physical
8
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

quantities: torque, angular momentum and moment of inertia. This paper presents a simple
experiment with a physical pendulum for examining rigid body motion.

The experiment presented below was motivated by the very neat and detailed
description of physical pendulum motion given by Sivukhin in his famous tutorial. The novelty
of this experiment consists in the fact that it is possible to obtain comprehensive information
about a rigid body from only one obtained experimental dependence (period of oscillation
versus position of pivot point). Simultaneously, data processing increases students’ skills in
applying knowledge from other sciences such as analyzing functions in mathematics, using
free software in informatics, or fitting theoretical functions to experimental data in
programming.

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

2.0 THEORIES

In this case, a rigid body – instead of point mass - is pivoted to oscillate as shown in the
figure. There is no requirement of string. As a result, there is no tension involved in this case.
Besides these physical ramifications, the working of compound pendulum is essentially same
as that of simple pendulum except in two important aspects:

Figure 1: Forces act through centre of mass.

The time period of compound pendulum, therefore, is given by:

∑ M =Iα
IӪ+ mgrϴ=0
mgr
Ӫ+( )ϴ = 0
I

mgr
ω n 2= (Equation 1)
I

Angular velocity
2π
ω n= (Equation 2)
t

Subs (2) in (1)

2π mgr
t
=
√I
I
t=2 π
√
mgr

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

We are, however, required to evaluate MI of the rod about the point of suspension, i.e. “O”.
Applying parallel axes theorem,

Putting in the equation of time period, we have:

The important thing to note about this relation is that time period is still independent of
mass of the rigid body. However, time period is not independent of mass distribution of the
rigid body. A change in shape or size or change in mass distribution will change MI of the rigid
body about point of suspension. This, in turn, will change time period.

Furthermore, we should note that physical pendulum is an effective device to measure

“g”. As a matter of fact, this device is used extensively in gravity surveys around the world.
We only need to determine time period or frequency to determine the value of “g”. Squaring
and rearranging,

Point of oscillation

We can think of physical pendulum as if it were a simple pendulum. For this, we can
consider the mass of the rigid body to be concentrated at a single point as in the case of simple
pendulum such that time periods of two pendulums are same. Let this point be at a linear
distance "L0" from the point of suspension. Here,

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3.0 APPARATUS
No Apparatus Name
1.

Wooden Pendulum

2.

Vee Support

3.

Universal Vibration System Apparatus

4.

Metal Ruler

5.

Stopwatch

Figure 2: Apparatus

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4.0 PROCEDURE

All the dimensions from the wooden pendulum was measured using metal ruler.

1. Wooden pendulum was hanged accurately at the middle of a steel pin at first suspension
point, A.

0
2. The pendulum was released to oscillate from left side at angle of 10 to right side of
the frame.

3. The time taken for the pendulum to complete 10 oscillations was recorded
by stopwatch.

4. Steps 2 and 3 are repeated 3 times to obtain 3 readings in order to get the average
time taken for 10 oscillations.

0
5. Next, the wooden pendulum was allowed to oscillate from right side at angle 10 to
left side of the frame.

6. The time taken for the pendulum to complete 10 oscillations is recorded by stopwatch.

7. Steps 5 and 6 are repeated 3 times to obtain 3 readings in order to get the average
time taken for 10 oscillations.

8. Next, the wooden pendulum was hanged by a steel pin at second suspension point, A.

9. Step 2 to 7 is repeated for the second suspension point, A.

10. Finally, the Mass Moment of Inertia (MMI), IG and IO are determined by using
the equations of Mathematical and Physical Pendulum.

11. The value obtained is compared with the value obtained from manual calculation.

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5.0 RESULT
Suspension Reference Angl No of Time taken
Point Point e Oscillation t1 t2 t3 tave
A 1 (Left) 10 14.35 14.22 14.25 14.27
10°
(V support) 2 (Right) 14.53 14.22 14.19 14.31
B 1 (Left) 10 14.07 14.30 14.16 14.18
10°
(Cylindrical) 2 (Right) 14.06 14.35 14.09 14.17

Table 1: Time taken, tave

A B

Figure 3: Part Label

For suspension point A

Component y (m) Area, A (m2) yA (m3)
Circular hole, a 0.06 4.909*10^-4 2.9454*10^-5
Rectangular hole, b 0.525 4.95*10^-3 2.5988*10^-3
Wooden pendulum, 0.4 0.064 0.0256
c
∑A = 0.06944 ∑yA =0.02823

For suspension point B

Component y (m) Area, A (m2) yA (m3)
Circular hole, a 0.74 4.909*10^-4 3.633*10^-4
Rectangular hole, b 0.275 4.95*10^-3 1.3613*10^-3
Wooden pendulum, 0.4 0.064 0.0256
c
∑A = 0.06944 ∑yA =0.02732

Table 2: Moment of Inertia

Calculation

1. ý A = 0.02823 / 0.06944 = 0.4065 m

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

ý B = 0.02732 / 0.06944 = 0.3934 m

2. Vt =Vc – Va – Vb = (0.064 - 4.909*10−4 - 4.95*10−3 * 0.01 = 6.944*10−4m3

Density, ρ = 0.6 / 6.944*10−4 = 864.03 kg/m3

3. M a = 864.03* 4.909*10−6 = 4.2425*10−3 kg

M b = 864.03* 4.95*10−5 = 0.0428 kg

M c = 864.03* 0.00064 = 0.5530 kg

4. I a = 3.3145*10−7 kgm2

I b = 7.2268*10−4kgm 2

I c = 0.0298kgm2

a. Point A

Component Mass(kg) Í d I adj

Circular hole, a 4.2426*10−3 3.3145*10−7 0 3.3145*10−7

Rectangular 0.0428 7.2268*10−4 0.465 9.977*10−3

hole, b

Wooden 0.5530 0.0298 0.34 0.09370

pendulum, c

b. Point B
5. I at point of rotation
Component Mass (kg) Í d I adj

Circular hole, a 4.2426*10−3 3.3145*10−7 0 3.3145*10−7

Rectangular 0.0428 7.2268*10−4 0.225 2.889*10−3

hole, b
Wooden 0.5530 0.0298 0.35 0.09754
pendulum, c

Table 3: I at point of rotation

I A = I c −I b−I a = 0.0837 kgm2

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I B = I c −I b−I a = 0.0946kgm 2

Moment of inertia Theory Experiment Percentage error

IA 0.0837 0.0771 7.86
IB 0.0946 0.0637 32.66

Table 4: Percentage error

INDIVIDUAL CALCULATION
To determine mass moment of inertia:

I Lo
T = 2π
√ mgr
= 2π
g √
t avg
T=
10

x ( LB −x )
r B=
L A + LB −2 x

rA = x – rB

Average time:
A B
14.27 14.18

x = 0.740 – 0.275
= 0.465m

( 0.465 ) (0.501−0.465)
rB =
( 0.508+0.501 )−(2)(0.465)
= 0.212 m

r A = 0.465 – 0.212
= 0.253 m

a. Point A

14.27
TA=
10

= 1.43s

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(1.43)2
LA = (9.81)
(2 π )2

= 0.5081m

I
T = 2π
√ mgr

IA
1.43 = 2π
√ ( 0.6 ) (9.81)(0.253)

I A = 0.0771 kgm2

(0.0837−0.0771)
Percentage error : x 100% = 7.86%
0.0837

b. Point B

14.18
TB =
10
= 1.42s
(1.42)2
LB = (9.81)
(2 π)2

= 0.5011m

I
T = 2π
√ mgr

IB
1.42 = 2π
√ ( 0.6 )( 9.81 )( 0.212 )

I B = 0.0637 kgm 2

(0.0946−0.0637)
Percentage error : x 100% = 32.66%
0.0946

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

6.0 DISCUSSION

From the data obtained in this experiment, it can be seen that the actual readings
obtained from the experiment are not far off from the theoretical values. The results
also show that as the masses are increases, the mass moment of inertia also increases.
This shows an increase-increase relationship between two variables. From the data it
can also be seen that the difference position of axis rotation will give the difference
result of mass moment of inertia.
From the data also it can be seen that the percentage error for moment of inertia at point
A is 7.86 while at point B is 32.66.

7.0 CONCLUSIONS

As a conclusion for the experiment that I and my group have carried out, I can say that I was
able to calculate the mass moment of inertia. I was able to use mass moment of inertia equation
to help me calculate the theoretical value of the mass moment of inertia. In order to obtain a
more accurate experimental result when compared to the theoretical calculation, there are a few
measures that I should have taken. Firstly, I should ensure that I keep my eyes perpendicular to
the protector, in order to avoid random error caused by human mistake and be able obtain the
most accurate reading. I should have also made sure that there were no friction occurs before
start the experiment and recording the time. The reading also is as accurate as it should be
because the person recording the time and measuring the cycle completed by the physical
pendulum were different.

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8.0 REFERENCE

1. Kladivová, M., &Mucha, L. (2014). Physical pendulum—a simple experiment can give
comprehensive information about a rigid body. European Journal of Physics, 35(2),
025018. doi:10.1088/0143-0807/35/2/0255018
2. Beer, F. P., Johnston, E. Russell q (Elwood Russell), d 1925-2010, Cornwell, P., Self,
B., &Sanghi, S. (2020). Vector mechanics for engineers: Dynamics. New York:
McGraw-Hill Education.
3. “MEC424 Dynamics Lab Exp. 2 (Theory)” Dr Mohamad Azzeim Mat Jusoh,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=vqexPbO7VRI&list=PLYRsxY0E6_f5hlD_4DzA205dgOXlN0Ti9&index=4&t=0s
4. “MEC424 Dynamics Lab Exp. 2 (Demo)” Dr Mohamad Azzeim Mat Jusoh,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=6vloqUDIVvo&list=PLYRsxY0E6_f5hlD_4DzA205dgOXlN0Ti9&index=4

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

9.0 APPENDICES

Figure 4: Theoritical content Appendix

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 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Teamwork Assessment Form

Name : MUHAMMAD MUIZZUDDIN BIN MAZLAN

Member’s Name 1 : MUHAMMAD NOOR AZAM

2 : MUHAMMAD MIKAEL AZWA

3 : MUHAMMAD NUR AMINUDDIN

4 : MUHAMMAD AMIN ASFAR

1 2 3 4 5
Scale
Level Poor Acceptable Excellent

You will rate yourself and your team’s member on the following criteria

Earned Assessment
Element Members
Self
1 2 3 4
I was ready to work with my team 5 5 5 5 5
I did my assigned work well and always on time 5 5 5 5 5
I was fair to my teammates and myself 5 5 5 5 5
I listened to others appreciatively and was supportive 5 5 5 5 5
I was very committed and focused in my team 5 5 5 5 5
I put extra efforts to finish or accomplish our task 5 5 5 5 5
I encouraged others in my team and was helpful 5 5 5 5 5
I managed and coordinated team efforts effectively 5 5 5 5 5
I was able to lead discussions and provide solutions 5 5 5 5 5
Overall, I was very satisfied and enjoyed my work 5 5 5 5 5
Total 50 50 50 50 50

Comment

Self: Cooperate with the team members

Member 1: Put extra efforts to finish or accomplish our task

Member 2: Have a good leadership skills

Member 3: Encouraged others in my team

Member 4: Able to lead discussions

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