AIM

Using a simple pendulum, plot L-T and L-T graphs. Hence, find the effective length of
second's pendulum using appropriate graph.

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED

A metallic bob with hook, iron stand with clamp, split cork, a fine and strong 2m
(ron/brass) a an a a
long cotton thread, vernier callipers, a stop-watch or stop-clock, a metre scale, graph paper, penci,
eraser, and a chalk piece.

DIAGRAM

Thread
Split cork pieces

A
O

Fig. 7.4 A simple pendulum and its effective length L.

THEORY
because the acceleration of its bob is
The oscillations of simple pendulum are simple harmonic
a
from the mean position and is always directed towards it.
directly proportional to its displacement
For oscillations of small amplitude, the time period of a simple pendulum is given by

T 27t
where L is the effective length of the pendulum and g is the acceleration due to gravity at the given

place.
69
 LAB MANUAL PHYSICS-XI

TxvL 0r TxL
Clearly,
Lvs. T graph is a parabola.
line.
Lis. T graph is a straight

PROCEDURE With the help of the vernie

of the given vernier callipers. mier
constant and zero error
diameter andnd
1. Find the vernier three times. Determine meanthe
the diameter of the bob at least
callipers, measure

hence the radius of the bob.

and tie its one end to the hook of the bob
2. Take a fine and strong cotton thread
about 2 m long
bob lies at the zero
metre scale in such a way
that the top surface of the
3. Place the cotton thread on a thread at distances of 80 cm, 90 cm
scale. Put ink marks on the
of the scale and its hook lies on the bob to these distances, we get
On adding radius r of the et
100 cm, 110 cm, 120 cm and 130 cm.
each case.
effective length of the pendulum in
cotton thread through twa
4. Place the clamp stand on the table
and pass the free end of the
such a way that the cut
cork firmly in the clamp stand in
half-pieces of the split cork. Hold the split
of the table.
of the cork is at right angles to the edge
the bob lies about 2 cm above the ground and the thread
5. Adjust the height of the clamp so that
comes out from the two halves of the cork just at the 80 cm ink mark. With the help of a chalk-piece,
mark point O just below the equilibrium position of the bob and draw line AOB about 10 cm long

of the table and line COD perpendicular to AOB, as shown in Fig. 7.4.
parallel to the edge
6. Examine the given stop-watch/stop-clock. Find out the number of divisions into which a second has
been divided. Hence determine the least count of the given stop-watch/stop-clock.
7. Displace the bob from the mean position O towards the extreme position A by 3 to 4 cm and releae
it gently so that it starts vibrating in a vertical plane about the equilibrium position O. Ensure that
the bob does not (i) spin about its own axis, or (ii) move up and down while oscillating, or
(ii) revolve along an elliptic path about its mean position.
8. Allow the bob to oscillate for some time. When the bob moves along A >0-> B >0-A, it
completes one oscillation. Start the stop-watch immediately when the bob reaches left extreme
position A and just begins to move towards right extreme position B. Note the time when the bob
completes 20 to and fro motions from A to B and back to A. Again find the time for 20 vibrations in
the same manner as before. Take the mean of these two readings. Dividing this time by 20, we get
time period T for the given length.

9. Now increase the length of the pendulum by 10 cm by adjusting the 90 cm ink mark of the threa3
the lower edge of the cork. As in
just at step 8, again find time for 20 vibrations twice and determu
the mean time period T.
10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 by adjusting thread at its 100 cm, 110 cm, 120 cm and 130 cm ink marks just
the lower edge of the cork and determine time period T in each case.
11. Record your observations in a tabular form as
given below. Find the value of T* tor
each

observation.
12. Choosing suitable scales for X- and Y-axes, plot L-T graph XIS
taking L along X-axis and T along Ia
Similarly, plot L-T graph by taking L along X-axis and the

two graphs. T along Y-axis. Identify the shape or

 Chopter 7 MEASUREMENT OF
TIME
OBSERVATIONS

1. For radius of the metallic bob

Vernier constant of the vernier callipers =

m

Zero error (with proper sign) of the vernier

callipers:
) cm
(ii) cm (1) cm

Mean zero error, e =. cm

Zero correction, c=-e= Cm

S.No.
Main scale reading Coinciding vernier Vernier scale reading Observed diameter
scale division = nx VC MSR VSR
(Cm) do +

(cm) (cm)
1.

Mean observed diameter, do = cm

Mean corrected diameter, d = d, +C= cm

Mean radius of the bob, r= cm

2. For time period of the simple pendulum

Least count of the stop-watch/stop-clock =

Length of Time for 20 oscillations t

Length of pendulum Time
S.No. (thread hook) L =l +T period T T
l = ST (1) Mean (s)
(Cm) ) s) (s) (s)
(cm)
80 cm

2. 90 cm

3 100 cm

4. 110 cm

120 cm

6. 130 cm

3. Plotting graphs

) L vs. T graph. From the recorded observations, plot a graph of L vs T, taking L along X-axis
and T along Y-axis. As shown in Fig. 7.5, we ind that L-T graph is a parabolic curve,

Convexing upwards.
(i) Lvs. T? graph. Plot a graph of L vs T, taking L along X-axis and Té along Y-axis. As shown in
line passing through the origin.
Fig. 7.6, L-T' graph is a straight
(ii) Length of second's pendulum from LT graph. A simple pendulum having time period
T 2 s is called a second's pendulum. In order to find its effective length from L-T? graph,

71
 LAB MANUAL PHYSICS-XI

straight line graph at a

2s. It meets this
draw a horizontal line corresponding to T =

at a point Q. This n.
horizontal axis meeting it
we

P. From P, draw a perpendicular to the point

point Usually the length of second's pendulh
the second's pendulum.
of um
gives the effective length
comes out to be nearly 1 m.

Y L vs. T graph
YA L vs. T graph
5.5
2.3|
-00-0-0
2.0

1.5
1.0

3.5
0.S
99.8Q
3.0 O 80 90 100 110 120 130 140
o 20 40 50 80 100 120 140
Length of pendulum L (cm)> Length (cm)

T. Fig. 7.6 Graph of L vs. T.

Fig. 7.5 Graph of L vs.

CALCULATIONS
(i) Length of second's pendulum from the L-T graph = cm

Theoretical value of length of second's pendulum = 99.3 cm

Percentage error = Experimental value-Standard value 100-

Standard value

(ii) Acceleration due to gravity at the given place,

8=4 -4n?x Slope of L-T*graph = 4nxRQ Cms

PQ

RESULT

1. The graph of L T is
versus a
parabolic curve, convexing upwards. It indicates that T is not
proportional to L but T oc VL.
2. The graph of L versus T is a
straight line. It indicates that L o
T
3. The effective length of second's
pendulum from LLT* graph is
Le =. cm
Percentage error Letr. in
4. The value of acceleration due to gravity at the
given place is
8 Cms2
ms2

PRECAUTIONS
1. The
suspension thread should be thin, light, strong unspun cotton thread.
2. The lower faces of the
two pieces of the split cork should lie at the same
in the cork should be horizontal level ana
perpendicular to the edge of the table. u
72
 Chapter 7 MEASUREMENT OF TIME

3. The split cork should be clamped in heavy iron stand so that iron stand may act like a rigid suppot

4. The bob should be suspended close to the ground.

5. The bob should be displaced gently from the mean position so that the bob oscillates in the same

vertical plane without any spinning or up and down motion.

harmonic and the
6. The amplitude of oscillations should be small so that its motion is simple
expression T = 27 is valid.

7. The length of the pendulum must include the length of the hook and the radius of the bo

8. The length of the pendulum should be changed in steps of 10 cm each time

must be noted
9. The counting of oscillations should be done carefully and time of oscillations
correctly.
oscillations
10. For plotting L-T and L-T4 graphs, at least six different lengths be taken and time for 20
for each length should be noted twice.
11. The should be performed in where there is no air disturbance. Even the fans
experiment a corner

should be switched off.

with least count of 0.1 should be preferred over a stop-clock of least count 1l s.
12. A stop-watch s

SOURCES OF ERROR

1. The point of suspension may not be rigid.

2. The amplitude of vibrations may not be small.

of will cause some error in the
3. The string used may not be inextensible. Then the elasticity string
effective length of the pendulum.
at moments.
4. The stop watch may not have been started or stopped proper
eliminated. This may result in spinning and conical
5. Sometimes air currents cannot be completely
motions of the bob, causing a twist of the thread. This causes an error in the time period.

an error occurs in counting the number of vibrations.

6. Sometimes

EXPERIMENT A8
AIM
bobs
To study the variation of time period of a simple pendulum of given length by taking
masses and interpret the result.
of same size but diferent
APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED
aluminium, iron and brass) provided with hooks, an iron stand with a
Three metallic bobs (one each of scale
1.5 m long cotton thread, a stop-watch or stop-clock, a metre
clamp, a split cork, a fine and long
and a chalk piece.
73
 LAB MANUAL PHYSICS-XI

DIAGRAM

Thread
-Split cork pieces

Fig.7.7 A simple pendulum and its effective length L.

THEORY
harmonic because the acceleration of its bob is
simple
The oscillations of a simple pendulum are
directed towards it.
to its displacement from the mean position and is always
directly proportional
For oscillations of small amplitude, the time period of a simple pendulum is given by

T2

where L is the effective length of the pendulum and g is the acceleration due to gravity at the given
independent of the mass m of the bob.
place. For a pendulum of given length L, T is

PROCEDURE
find the of bobs of aluminium, iron and brass but having
1. With the help of a spring balance, masses

same radius.

Find out the number of divisions into which a second has

2. Examine the given stop-watch/stop-clock.
been divided. Hence, determine the least count of the given stop-watch/stop-clock.
3. Take a fine and strong cotton thread about 1.5 m long and tie its one end to the hook of aluminium
bob.
4 Place the cotton thread on the metre scale in such a way that the top surface of the bob liesat
zero of the scale and its hook lies on the scale. Put an ink mark on the thread at a distance
100 cm. The effective length of the pendulum becomes (100+ r) cm, where r is the radius of the bod.

5. Place the clampP stand on the table and pass the free end of the cotton thread through t
half-pieces of the split cork. Hold the split cork firmly in the clamp stand in such a way that the cu

of the cork is at right angles to the edge of the table.

74
 Chopter7 MEASUREMENT OF TIME

6. Adjust the height ot the clamp so that the bob lies 2 cm above the ground and the thread comes out
trom the two halves of the cork just at the 100 cm ink mark. With the help of a chalk-piece, mark

point O just below the equiibrium position of the bob and draw line AOB about 10 cm long parallel
to the edge of the table and line COD perpendicular to AOB, as shown in Fig. 7./
7. Displace the bob from the mean position O towards the extreme position A by 3 to 4 cm and reiedse
it gentl so that it starts vibrating in a vertical plane about the equilibrium position O. Ensure the
bob does not () spin about its own avis, or (i) move up and down while oscillating, or (i) revolve
along an ecliptic path about its mean position.
s. Allow the bob to oscillate for some time. When the bob moves along A O > B > 0 > A , it
completes one oscillation. Start the stop-watch immediately when the bob reaches left extreme
position A and just begins to move towards right extreme position B. Note the time when the bob
completes 20 to and fro motions fronm A to B and back to A. Again find the time for 20 vibrations in
the same manner as betore. Take the mean of these two readings. Dividing this time by 20, we get
time period T for the pendulum with aluminium bob.
9. Repeat steps 3 to 9 for the pendulums with iron and brass bobs and determine the time period in
each case. Note that the radius of bobs and length of these pendulums are same as that of iron bob
and the corresponding pendulum.
10. Record your observations in a tabular form and try to study the dependence of the time period T
on masS m of the bob.

OBSERVATIONS
Mass of aluminium bob, 11
Mass of iron bob, m, =

Mass of brass bob, m

Length of (thread + hook) for each pendulum =100 cm

Least count of the stop-watch/stop-clock =

Table Time periods of different pendulums

Time for 20 oscillations, t Time period

Mass of the
S.No. Bob used T =
bob m
(i) Mean t 20
(s) (s) (s) s)
Aluminium nh
2. Iron

3. Brass

From observation table, we see that for the pendulums of same length, the time periodT of the three
pendulums is same within the limits of experimental error even when masses of the bobs are ditterent.

RESULT
Time period of a simple pendulum is independent of the mass of the bob.

PRECAUTIONS
Same as in Experiment A7 on pages 72 and 73.
SoURCES OF ERROR
in A7 on page 73.
Same as Experiment

DIsCUSSiON
of measurement of the ettective length (usino.
Sing
1. The accuracy of the result depends on the accuracy
stop watch). As the time period appears
metre scale) and the time period T of the pendulum (using
result. A stop-watch with an accuracy of
as T -

an error of 1% of T introduces an error of 2% in the

0.1 s must be preferred over a less accurate stop-watch/stop-clock.
spinning conical motion of the bob. This will cause a twist in
oder
2. Sometimes, air currents may cause

the thread, thereby affecting the time period. To avoid this, the bob should be released very gently
after it is taken to one side of the mean position.

due to airslightly increase the time period of the pendulum. We reduce

3. Buoyancy and viscous drag material such as
this effect to a large extent by taking a small heavy bob of high density
iron/steel/brass.

VIVA VOCE
1. Define acceleration due to gravitv. 10. What is oscillatory motion

It is the acceleration produced in a freely falling If a body moves back and forth repeatedly about its
mean position, its motion is said to be oscillatory
body under the gravitational pull of the earth.
motion.
2. sg a scalar or a vector quantity
11. Can a motion be periodic and not oscillatorv ?
It is a vector quantity having a direction towards the
centre of the earth. Yes, for example, the motion of the earth around the
sun is periodic but not oscillatory because it is not a
3. Give one difference between g and G. to and fro motion about any nmean position.
The value of g varies from place to place. On the
12. What is simple harmonic motion?
other hand, G is a universal gravitational constant.
A particle is said to execute simple harmonic motion
4. What is the value of g on the earth's surface ?
if it moves to and fro about a mean position under
9.8 ms the action of a restoring force which is directly pro
5. What is the effect of altitude on the value of g ? portional to its displacement from the mean positio0n
and is always directed towards the mean position.
The value of g decreases with altitude.
13. What is force law for SHM?
6. What is the effect of depth on the value of g ?
Restoring force «
displacement or F = -kx.
The value of g decreases with the increase in depth.
14. Detine force constant k and name its Sl unit.
7. What is the value of g at the centre of the earth ?
The restoring force produced per unit displacement
Zero. or
of an oscillating body is called force constant
8. Where is the value of g more at the poles or at the spring factor. Its SI unit is Nm.
equator ?
15. What is an ideal
simple pendulum
The value of g is more at the poles than at the
equator because polar radius of the earth is smaller
An ideal simple pendulum consists of a point-ma
than the equatorial radius and g =GM/ R<. suspended by a flexible, inelastic and weightless
string from a rigid support of infinite mass.
9. What is periodic motion ? al
realise in
The motion which repeats itself over and over again
16. Can we an ideal simple pendulum actu
practice?
after a fixed interval of time is called a periodic
neither have nor"
motion.
No, we can a point mass

weightless inelastic string