KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY
(KNUST)

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
QUAYSON EMMANUEL
INDEX NUMBER 6327924
REFERENCE NUMBER 21107139 : DATE 3RD APRIL 2025
 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CONTENT PAGE
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………....3

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………….. 4

METEHOD/PROCEDURE…………………………………………………………..…...5

DIAGRAM………………………………………………………………………………..6

OBSERVATION TABLE (DATA)………………………………………………………7

GRAPHS……………………………….…………………………………………………8 -10

THEORY AND CALCULATION……………………….……………………………….11-13

RESULTS AND DISCUSIONS…………………………………………………………..14

ERROR ANALYSIS………………………………………………………………………15

PRECAUTIONS……………………………………………………………………………16

CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………...16

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………17
 ABSTRACT
This experiment was aimed to investigate the motion of a compound pendulum to
determine its radius of gyration and acceleration due to gravity. The pendulum was
suspended on pivot at 5 cm mark away from its center of mass determined to be 50
cm. The distance from the 5 cm to the center of mass was determined to be 45 cm.
The pendulum was made to swing for 10 complete oscillations twice to record time
t1 and t2 and the average value was determined. The period of oscillation of the
pendulum was calculated. The experiment was repeated with the meter stick
pivoted at 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm, 35 cm, 40 cm, from the center of
mass of the meter stick. The time taken was recoded and the period of oscillation
was calculated in each case. The entire procedure was repeated with the meter stick
pivoted 5 cm mark from the other end. A graph of T versus h and -h was plotted,
where -h is the distance when the meter stick was oscillated from the other end the
h value where the period is short was determined and two graphs of T2h versus h2
were plotted. Their slop helped to determine the acceleration due to gravity which
also helped to calculate for the radius of gyration.
 INTROUCTION
In this experiment we study the properties of a compound pendulum. A meter stick

is suspended about axes at different along its length. The period about each axis is

measured using the motion sensor. Graphs of the pendulum period versus the

distance of the axis from the center of mass of the meter stick and the derivative

period (with respect to the distance) versus this same distance yield information

that can permit the determination of the rotational inertia of the meter stick about

its center of mass and the radius of gyration.

 METHOD/PROCEDURE

1.Pivote the meter stick in the hole at 5 cm mark.

2.Displace the meter stick through a small amplitude so it rotates freely.

3.Record the time for ten complete oscillations.

4.Remove the meter stick and reattach it at 10 cm from the end, displace and
measure the time for 10 oscillations.

5.Repeat this procedure every 5 cm to (and including) a distance of 40.0 cm from

the end of the meter stick

6.Repeat the above procedure starting from the other end of the meter stick.
DIAGRAM
 OBSERVATION TABLE

Table one Center of gravity=50cm

L/cm h/cm h/m h2 /m2 t1 /s t2 /s t(avg) /s T/s T2 /s2 T2 h/s2 m
5 45 0.45 0.2025 15.3 15.1 15.2 1.52 2.3104 1.03968
10 40 0.4 0.16 14.79 14.7 14.745 1.4745 2.17415 0.8696601
15 35 0.35 0.1225 14.59 14.48 14.535 1.4535 2.112662 0.73943179
20 30 0.3 0.9 14.54 14.28 14.41 1.441 2.076481 0.6229443
25 25 0.25 0.625 14.33 14.66 14.495 1.4495 2.10105 0.52526256
30 20 0.2 0.4 14.98 15.18 15.08 1.508 2.274064 0.4548128
35 15 0.15 0.225 16 16.35 16.175 1.6175 2.616306 0.39244594
40 10 0.1 0.1 18.63 18.6 18.615 1.8615 3.465182 0.34651823

Table two Center of gravity=50cm

L/cm h/cm h/m h^2/m^2 t1/s t2/s t(avg)/s T/s T^2/s^2 T^2h/s^2m
5 45 0.45 0.2025 15.11 15.21 15.16 1.516 2.298256 1.0342152
10 40 0.4 0.16 15.06 14.75 14.905 1.4905 2.22159 0.8886361
15 35 0.35 0.1225 14.74 14.52 14.63 1.463 2.140369 0.74912915
20 30 0.3 0.9 14.5 14.74 14.62 1.462 2.137444 0.6412332
25 25 0.25 0.625 14.55 14.45 14.5 1.45 2.1025 0.525625
30 20 0.2 0.4 14.71 15.06 14.885 1.4885 2.215632 0.44312645
35 15 0.15 0.225 16.2 16.03 16.115 1.6115 2.596932 0.38953984
40 10 0.1 0.1 18.2 18.31 18.255 1.8255 3.33245 0.33324503
 GRAPHS

A graph of T against h and -h

A graph of T versus -h and h from table one(graph one)

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
1.4 1.45 1.5 1.55 1.6 1.65 1.7 1.75 1.8 1.85 1.9
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5

(-h)/m h/m

0.5 A graph of T versus -h and h from table two(graph two)

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
1.4 1.45 1.5 1.55 1.6 1.65 1.7 1.75 1.8 1.85
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5

(-h)/m h/m
 Graph three
A graph of T2h against h2 from table one

T^2h/s^2m
1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
 Graph four
A graph of T2h/s2m against h2 from table two

T^2h/s^2m
1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
 THEORY

For a physical/compound pendulum an object is mounted on a horizontal axis so as

to oscillate under the force of gravity. The period T is given as;

T =2 π
√ I ………………….1
mgh

Where I, is the rotational inertia, m is the mass of the pendulum and h is the
distance from the suspension point to the center of mass.
The rotational inertia about any axis parallel to the one through the center of mass
is given by the parallel axis theorem as;
2
I =I CM +m h

ICM = mR2 where; ICM is the center of mass

I = mR2 +mh2
I = m (R2 + h2)
Substituting into equation 1

T =2 π
√ R 2+ h2
gh

Simplifying further we have

2 2 2
2 4π h 4π R
T h= +
g g
2 2 2
4π 4π R
Slope of T2h versus h2 is and is the intercept of T2h
g g
 CALCULATIONS
The minimum value of h, hmin where the period is the shortest are 0.3 m from graph
one and 0.25 m from graph two.
From graph 3
( 1−0.6 ) s 2 m
slope= = 0.6364 s2m
( 0.19−0.08)m2
2
4π
0.6364 =
g
2
4π
g=
0.6364

g=10.87 m/s2
from the graph T2h intercept is 0.32 s2m
2 2
4π R
0.32 =
g
g × 0.32
R2 = 2
4π
10.87 × 0.32
R =√ 2
4π

R ≈0.297m (29.7 cm)

From graph 4
( 1.01−0.6 ) s2 m
Slope =
( 0.19−0.08 ) m2

Slope =3.727s2m
2
4π
3.727=
g
2
4π
g=
3.727

g=10.59m/s2
Radius of gyration
From graph 4 the intercept of T2h is 0.3s2m
 10.59 ×0.3
R=√ 2 =0.287 m (28.7cm)
4π

=>R= √ =0.282 m (28.2 cm)

from graphs three and four the intercepts are 0.32 the theoretical value of radius of gyration the
2
4π R
2
0.32× 9.8
intercept c¿ 2
g 4π
 RESULTS AND DISCUSIONS
The experiment was done to determine the radius of gyration of the meter stick and
acceleration due to gravity. It was observed that, the more the distance from the
center of mass is decreased, that is, when the meter stick suspended in the holes
getting close to the center of mass (50 cm), the time taken for 10 complete
oscillations decreases gradually and then increase, so as to the period of
oscillations. The two tabulated data which were used to plot the graphs T against h
and T2h against h2, helped to determine the minimum value of h (h min), the
acceleration due to gravity and radius the radius of gyration. The h min from graph
one and two were 0.32 m and 0.25m respectively. From graph three the
acceleration due to gravity is 10.87 m/s 2 and its corresponding radius of gyration is
0.297. After analyzing the errors from the results, the value of acceleration due to
gravity was found to deviate by +1.07 and the radius of gyration deviates from the
theoretical value (0.282 m) by 0.015 m, the values for g and R from the experiment
are 10.87±0.015 and 0.297±0.015 respectively.
From graph four, the values of g and R were 10.59 m/s 2 and
0.287 respectively. Analyzing the error the value for is 10.59±0.79 m/s2 and
the radius of gyration is 0.287±0.005 m.
 ERROR ANALYSIS
The standard value of acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2, from graph three g=
10.87 m/s2.
Error = 10.87-9.8=1.07
1.07
Percentage error = 9.8 × 100 %

for the radius of gyration 0.297-0.282

Percentage error = 10.9%

=0.015 m
percentage error = 0.282 × 100 %
0.015

from graph four g=10.59 m/s2

error =10.59-9.8 =0.79
percentage error =
×100 %=8.06% radius of
0.79

gyration error=0.287-0.282=0.005 m
9.8

percentage error= 0.282 × 100 % =1.77%

0.005
 PRECAUTIONS
1.All electric fun were turned off to prevent air resistance from interfering with the
rotation of the pendulum.
2. The pendulum was displaced through a small amplitude so that it rotates freely.
 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the experiment helped to obtain the values for the radius of gyration of the
pendulum and acceleration due to gravity which were close to the standard value 9.8m/s2. The
experiment on the physical/compound pendulum was successfully conducted to determine the
radius of gyration and acceleration due to gravity. The results obtained from the experiment were
in good agreement with the theoretical values. The radius of gyration (R) was calculated to be
[0.297 and 0.287] m, which is consistent with the expected value for a physical/compound
pendulum. The acceleration due to gravity (g) were calculated to be [10.89 and 10.59] m/s^2,
which is in close agreement with the accepted value of 9.81 m/s^2.The percentage error in the
calculated value of g were 10.9% and 8.06% from the tables one and two respectively, which
indicates that the experiment was conducted with reasonable accuracy. The results of this
experiment demonstrate the validity of the equations of motion for a physical/compound
pendulum and provide a reliable method for determining the radius of gyration and acceleration
due to gravity. Over all, this experiment provided a valuable opportunity to explore the dynamics
of a physical/compound pendulum and to develop skills in experimental design, data analysis,
and scientific inquiry.
 REFERENCE

Reginald M. Noye, David W. Smith and Van-Dyke (2022), Laboratory manual in experimental
physics 1, Department of physics, K.N.U.S.T .

REPOERT SUBMITTED