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Using a Simple Pendulum to Measure the Acceleration due to Gravity

Theory suggests that the time period of a simple pendulum can be calculated using the following equation

where, is the length of the pendulum and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Assuming that this equation is correct, use a simple pendulum to find the acceleration due to gravity.
Your will probably measure the time periods corresponding to various lengths but be sure to have one result for a pendulum of length 0·3m.

Data Analysis
1. Use your results to find a value for g.
2.

The accepted value for g (in Paris) is 9·81Nkg-1. Calculate the percentage difference between your final figure for g and the accepted value.
3. Calculate a value for g using the result corresponding to a pendulum of length 0·3m. Assuming that your reaction time is 0·15s, find the uncertainty in this result. State the figure in the usual way (g = x ±Dx Nkg-1). Comment on the level of precision of this result compared with your final result.

 

© David Hoult 2008