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Bar Pendulum

The experiment aims to determine acceleration due to gravity and the radius of gyration of a bar pendulum by plotting a graph between time period and distance of the knife edge from the center of gravity. Observations of time period are taken for different positions of the bar pendulum suspended by a knife edge. From the graph, the equivalent length and radius of gyration are calculated, allowing the acceleration due to gravity to be determined using the period equation for a simple pendulum. The values found from the graph are then compared to values calculated directly from formulas.

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233 views

Bar Pendulum

The experiment aims to determine acceleration due to gravity and the radius of gyration of a bar pendulum by plotting a graph between time period and distance of the knife edge from the center of gravity. Observations of time period are taken for different positions of the bar pendulum suspended by a knife edge. From the graph, the equivalent length and radius of gyration are calculated, allowing the acceleration due to gravity to be determined using the period equation for a simple pendulum. The values found from the graph are then compared to values calculated directly from formulas.

Uploaded by

vidhiichauhan7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment No 8

Objective: To plot a graph between the distance of knife edge from the centre of gravity
and time period of a compound pendulum (Bar pendulum). From the graph, Find:
1. Acceleration due to gravity
2. Radius of gyration k of the bar
Apparatus: Bar pendulum, stop watch, knife edges, meter scale.
Formula/Theory:
A bar pendulum is a type of compound pendulum consisting of uniform rectangular bar
about 1 meter long with holes drilled along its length equal distances from each other. The
centre lies on the straight line passing through the centre of gravity of the pendulum. A
sharp knife edge is attached to some heavy frame provided with levelling screws to make
the knife edge horizontal. The bar can be suspended from any hole with the help of knife
edge.

The principal is based on interchangeability of the centres of suspension and oscillations.


For a point of suspension, there is another point on other side of the centre of gravity called
as centre of oscillations about which the time period is almost there are two other such
points. The distance between centre of oscillation and centre of suspension is known as the
length of equivalent length of simple pendulum. Knowing the distance time period of
compound pendulum is

𝑙 +𝑙2
T= 2𝜋 √ 1
𝑔

Hence g can be calculated as


(𝑙1 +𝑙2 )
G= 4𝜋 2 cm/s2
𝑇2

And Radius of gyration k as

k = √𝑙1 𝑙2

For bar pendulum, the graph between T and l follows the nature as:
(a) PQ=QR=k and time at Q is Tmin
(𝐴𝐶+𝐶𝐸) (𝐵𝐶+𝐶𝐷)
(b) 𝑙1 = and 𝑙2 =
2 2

Diagram:

Procedure:
➢ On the compound pendulum side A is marked on the one side and side B on the
other side.
➢ The knife edge are placed in the first hole on either side parallel to each other and
make them tight. Ensure that the sharp edge is pointing towards the centre of
gravity.
➢ The pendulum is suspended from the knife edge on the side A so that the knife edge
is perpendicular to the edge of the slot and the pendulum is hanging parallel to the
wall. The pendulum is set into vibration with small amplitude of 5o and is allowed to
make free vibrations so that these become regular.
➢ One is counted when the pendulum is passing through the same position in the same
direction and so on. The time taken for n vibrations is noted. Time for one
oscillations is calculated. The distance between centre of gravity and the knife edge
is measured.
➢ Now the bar pendulum is suspended on the knife edge on the side B and
observations are repeated.
➢ The observations with knife edges in the 2nd, 3rd , 4th , etc. holes on either side of
centre of gravity is repeated.
➢ A graph is plotted between the distance of knife edge from centre of gravity (with
C.G at x=0 cm) taken along the x-axis and corresponding time period T taken along y-
axis.
➢ If a horizontal line ABCDE is drawn. It cuts graph in points A, B and D, E about which
the time period is same. The points A and D or B and E lie on opposite sides of the
centre of the gravity at unequal distances such that the time period about these
points is the same. Hence, one of these corresponds to the centre of gravity at
unequal distances such that the time period about these points is the same. Hence,
one of these corresponds to the ‘centre of suspension’ and the other corresponds to
the ‘centre of oscillations’.
➢ The distance AD or BE gives the length of equivalent simple pendulum L. if T
corresponds to the time period, then
𝑙 +𝑙
T= 2𝜋 √ 1 𝑔 2

Observations: Length of the bar pendulum: …………………………


Least count of stop watch: ……………………………...
Least count of meter scale: ……………………………..

Number of oscillations (n): ………………………………


Sno Side A Side B
Distance Time for n Time period Distance Time for n Time period for
from oscillations for one from oscillations one oscillation
C.G(cm) ‘t’ (sec) oscillation C.G(cm) ‘t’ (sec) T=t/n (sec)
T=t/n (sec)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Calculations: (a) Length of equivalent simple pendulum

S. No Length from graph


1 (𝐴𝐶+𝐶𝐸)
𝑙1 =
2
2 (𝐵𝐶 + 𝐶𝐷)
𝑙2 =
2

Mean T = …………………………………..
The g can be calculated as
(𝑙1 +𝑙2 )
G= 4𝜋 2 cm/s2
𝑇2

And Radius of gyration k as

k = √𝑙1 𝑙2
Result: The value of acceleration due to gravity g from the graph is found to be …………………
%error=…………………………
The value of radius of gyration k from the graph is found to be ………………………………………

The value of radius of gyration k from the formula is found to be……………………………………


Precautions:
1. The knife edge should be horizontal and the bar pendulum parallel to wall.
2. Amplitude should be small.
3. The bar pendulum should vibrate only in vertical plane.
4. Curves on the graph should be drawn smoothly.
Sources of Error:
1. The knife edge may not be horizontal.
2. The amplitude may not be small.
3. The bar pendulum may be vibrating in horizontal plane.

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