Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev.

01-2014

ABSTRACT

In the beginning of study, the wooden pendulum is used in this lab experiment which has
purposes to let the students to determine the mass moment of inertia (at centre of gravity, I G
and at suspension point, Io) by 10 oscillations of the wooden pendulum. The apparatus used are
such as wooden pendulum, Vee support, stopwatch, ruler and frame. All the data for the
wooden pendulum oscillation is tabulated. The time for each 10 oscillations of wooden
pendulum complete is taken and the average value is calculated. Besides that, there are 2
different points that students need to identify which are at point A and point B. Theoretical and
experimental method were used to the determine the value of T, L, R G and the error percentage
for both different results. They might be a small value of errors occur that caused by some
factor for example the air friction. At the end of the experiment, students should be explained
their discussion and make a conclusion regarding the results obtained.
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................4

2.0 THEORY...........................................................................................................................5

3.0 APPARATUS....................................................................................................................9

4.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE....................................................................................9

5.0 RESULTS........................................................................................................................10

6.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSSION...........................................................................15

7.0 REFERENCES................................................................................................................22

8.0 APPENDICES.................................................................................................................23
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

1.0 INTRODUCTION

A physical pendulum is a rigid object that swings freely about a pivot point. It can be
compared with a simple pendulum, which consists of a mass suspended by a weightless string
from a pivot. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting equilibrium position,
there will be a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium
position. When the pendulum is released, it will swing back and forth due to the restoring force
acting on the pendulum that causes it to oscillate about the equilibrium position. The time taken
for the pendulum to complete a cycle, a left swing and a right swing, is called the period. The
period depends on the length of the pendulum and to the degree on the amplitude or the width
of the swing.

In this experiment, the physical pendulum is a wooden pendulum with a length of 0.8m.
Its pivot is about a fixed point with a distance r from the center of mass. The wooden pendulum
serves as an example of inhomogeneous pendulum with a complicated geometry. It used to
show how the mass moment of inertia of an unknown body could be determined by way of
oscillation.
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

2.0 THEORY

A simple pendulum system consists of mass, m that hanging from a string with a length, L
and the string is fixed at one end at a pivot point, P. The system is start with the pendulum
displace for certain angle at the initial and being release. The pendulum will swing forward and
backward until it stops. The motion of the swing is called by periodic motion. In this
investigation of the pendulum system, due to change in times. Variety of quantities will change
along the changing the time. For example, velocity, potential and kinetic energy and some
force.

In this experiment, the wooden pendulum is being used as a rigid body. For this
experiment, the wooden pendulum is hanging on one end to different support. With this
system, it can carry out an equation of motion to determine mass moment inertia and at
suspension point by oscillation.

Free body diagram of wooden pendulum

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

During the swing of pendulum, the amplitude is independent to the period. The value of period,
T can be found by using equation:
I
T  2
mgr

Where:
I  mass moment of inertia
m  mass
g  gravitational force ( 9.81m / s )
r  distance from the rotation

Formula of mass moment of inertia

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

I A  I G  mrA2
I B  I G  mrB2

From the free body diagram, apply the moment equation:

M A,external  M A,effective
Wr A sin    I  mat rA

From basic equation of rotational motion system:

a  r  r
Where:
Angular velocity,   

Then , apply the equation to the moment equation:

Wr A   I   mrA (rA)

Wr    I   mr 2
A A


Wr A   I   mrA2  

Wr   I  mr 2   0
A A 
 
The equation I  mrA is the parallel axis theorem formula.
2
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

General formula in mass moment inertia:

I x  I x  md 2
I A  I A  mrA2

Then, substitute the formula to the equation below:

Wr A  I A  0
mgr   I   0
A A

mgrA I A
 0
IA IA
mgrA 
  0
IA

Lastly compare it with the general equation:

  n2  0
mgrA
n2 
IA
mgrA
n2 
IA
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

3.0 APPARATUS

Figure 1: Apparatus
Universal vibration system apparatus which includes:
1. Wooden pendulum
2. Stopwatch
3. Ruler 1 meter
4. G support
5. Control unit
6. Damper
7. Frame

4.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. Dimension of the wooden pendulum was taken by using a ruler for calculation purpose.
2. The wooden pendulum was hanged on point A.
3. The wooden pendulum was oscillated from left side and was displaced to a 10-degree
angle from its initial position. The oscillation starts alternates at point 1 and point 2.
4. The time taken for the pendulum to complete 10 oscillations was recorded by
stopwatch.
5. Step 3 and 4 was repeated 3 times to obtain 3 readings in order to get the average time
taken for 10 oscillations.
6. The experiment was repeated by hanging wooden pendulum on point B.
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

5.0 RESULTS

Figure 1: dimensions of wooden pendulum

Suspension Reference Point Angle No. of Time Taken

Point Oscillation t1 t2 t3 tave
A 1 (left) 15.66 14.19 14.34 14.73
(V support) 10° 10
2 (right) 14.40 14.22 14.68 14.43

B 1 (left) 13.59 14.09 13.91 13.86

(B cylindrical) 10° 10
2 (right) 14.06 14.19 14.03 14.09

Sample of calculation:
1. Theoretical Value

Finding center ý for the physical pendulum

ý=
∑ ý A
∑A
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

Component y (m) A (m2) ý A (m3)

1 0.4 0.064 0.0256
2 0.06 4.909x10-4 2.945x10-5
3 0.525 4.95x10-3 2.599x10-3
∑ A=0.059 ∑ ý A=0.023
0.023
ý=
0.059
ý=0.393 m
Finding total volume, total density and mass of the physical pendulum
Total mass given is 600g and thickness is 0.01m
V T =V 1−V 2−V 3
V T =6.4 x 10−4 −4.909 x 10−6−4.95 x 10−5
V T =5.856 x 10−4 m3

mT
ρT =
VT
0.6
ρT =
5.856 X 10−4
ρT =1024.6 kg /m3

Finding mass of each section

m 1=1024.6 x 6.4 x 10− 4
m 1=0.656 kg

m 2=1024.6 x 4.909 x 10−6

m 2=5.029 x 10−3 kg

m 3=1024.6 x 4.95 x 10−5

m3=50.72 x 10−3 kg
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

Finding total mass moment of inertia about point A

Component Mass (kg) Í (kgm3) d (m) Í G( A ) (kg m3 )
1 0.656 0.0353 8x10-3 0.0353
2 5.029 x 10−3 3.929x10-7 0.332 5.547x10-4
3 50.72 x 10−3 8.564x10-4 0.133 1.753x10-3
∑ Í G (A )=0.0327
2
Í O= Í G ( A ) +m d
Í O=0.0327+ ( O.6 )( 0.392 )2
Í O( A )=0.125 kg m3

Finding total mass moment of inertia about point B

Component Mass (kg) Í (kgm3) d (m) Í G( A ) (kg m3 )
1 0.656 0.0353 8x10-3 0.03504
-7
2 5.029 x 10 −3
3.929x10 0.332 5.547x10-4
3 50.72 x 10−3 8.564x10-4 0.133 1.753x10-3
∑ Í G (A )=0.0327

Í O= Í G ( B) +m d 2
Í O=0.0327+ ( O.6 )( 0.408 )2
Í O(B )=0.1325 kg m3

2. Experimental Value

Finding mass moment of inertia:

Time taken for 1 oscillation
t ave
t=
10

L
t=2 π
√ g
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

2
t
L= ( ) xg
2π

t ave ( 1) +t ave (2 )
t A= ÷10
2
14.73+14.43
t A= ÷ 10
2
t A=1.458 s
t ave (1) +t ave ( 2)
t B= ÷ 10
2
13.86+14.09
tB= ÷10
2
t B =1.3975 s

Finding LA and LB
1.458 2
LA= ( 2π )
X 9.81

L A =0.528 m

1.3975 2
LB = ( 2π )
X 9.81

LB =0.485 m

Finding I, from equation:

I
t=2 π
√ mgr g
2
t
I o= ( ) x mg r
2π g
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

Finding rg: x=0.7025m

x ( LB −x )
r g=
LB + L A −2 x
0.7025 ( 0.485−0.7025 )
r g=
0.485+0.528−2 ( 0.7025 )
r g=0.3898 m
Finding I o:
1.458 2
I O ( A )= ( )2π
X 0.6 X 9.81 X 0.3898=0.1235 kgm 3

2
1.3975
=(
2π )
3
I O (B ) X 0.6 X 9.81 X 0.3898=0.1135 kgm

Finding IG:
I G +m ( r g )2
L=
mr g
I G=( L−r g ) x mr g

I G ( A )=( 0.528−0.3898 ) x 0.6 ( 0.3898 ) =0.0324 kgm3

I G (B )=( 0.485−0.3898 ) x 0.6 ( 0.3898 )=0.0224 kgm3

Theoretical vs experimental:
Moment of inertia Experimental Theoretical %
IG(A) 0.0324 0.0327 0.92
IO(A) 0.1235 0.125 1.2
IG(B) 0.0224 0.0327 31.49
IO(B) 0.1135 0.1325 14.34
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

6.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSSION

Discussion
The results from this experiment is to find the mass moment of inertia at centre of
gravity IG, and at the point given I O. There are two different point A and B located at the
wooden pendulum. All of the mass moment of inertia from the both points was determined
according to the experiment and theory. The wooden pendulum has to complete 10 oscillations
started from left and right at angle given hanging at point A and B. Time taken was taken for
the 10 complete oscillations. The time taken was recorded 3 times. For the theoretical values,
IG(A), IG(B), IO(A) and IO(B) was calculated using formulae. First the volume of all part is
determined, then finding the total density of the material using total volume and mass. From
the total density, the mass of each component is determined. Then, the values of mass moment
of inertia are determined. For the experimental values, IG(A), IG(B), IO(A) and IO(B) was calculated
by using formula and average time taken. It is found out that there are different values of mass
moment of inertia from theory and experimental. This is because of several errors. First, there
will be precision error on finding the dimensions of the wooden pendulum. There also will be
parallax error when deciding the angle of starting point. All of these errors have affected the
results of mass moment of inertia.

Conclusion
It can be concluded that the pendulum weight is pin to a point and can swing freely.
When the pendulum is displaced away from its equilibrium position, it will tend to restore
force and moved toward to its equilibrium position due to gravity. When released from certain
angle, the force combined with the mass cause it to oscillate about the equilibrium position.
The time taken, period is when the pendulum complete one cycle. Then the mass moment of
inertia values is determined. There also will be errors when doing the experiment and can
affect the results.
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

7.0 REFERENCES

1) Brittanica, (2020). Moment of Inertia. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/science/moment-of-inertia

2) E.P James, (2000). The Simple Pendulum. Retrieved from

http://www.phys.utk.edu/labs/SimplePendulum.pdf

3) Wooden pendulum,2012, retrieved from:

http://mechanical-girls-are-sweet.blogspot.com/2012/05/mec424-pendulum.html
 Applied Mechanics Lab – MEC 424/AHA/MCM Rev. 01-2014

8.0 APPENDICES

Theory information for lab 2

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

Lab result of the experiments