Determination of Gravitational Acceleration

Determination of Gravitational AccelerationIntroductionPendulums can be defined as a body suspended from a fixed reward so that it swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity, commonly used to regulate various devices, especi every(prenominal)y clocks.Worth (2008) states that pendulums have been used for thousands of years. The antediluvian Chinese used the pendulum principle to try and help predict earthly concernquakes. Hundreds years ago the famous Italian scientist Galileo was the first European to really study pendulums and he discovered that their regularity could be used for keeping measure, leading to the first clocks. Worth (2008) goes on to develop that in 1656, the Dutch inventor and mathematician, Huygens, was the first soldiery to successfully build an accurate clock. It was the first cartridge clip pendulums were used for humans everyday life.There are four basic laws of a pendulum Van Albert (1995) explain that firstly the clip it takes for a p endulum to comp allowe a swing is associate to the square root of the distance of string of the pendulum. Secondly the time it takes for the pendulum to swing is related to the square root of the gravitative acceleration. Gravitational acceleration can be defined as the force that attracts objects in space towards each other, and that on the earth pulls them towards the centre of the planet, so that things fall to the ground when they are dropped (Wikipedia 2010). threesomely the time it takes for the pendulum to swing is not related to the mass and material of the dinky ball at the end of the pendulum. Finally the time is independent of the greatest distance that a wave provided the greatest distance that a wave is excellent.The principles of a pendulum can be proven. This test is going to show the effect changing gravitational acceleration has on a pendulum, and will determine gravitational acceleration using a guileless pendulumMethodsEquipment of mark of gravitational a cceleration using a simple pendulumA long opus of stringA wooden blockA small ballA one meter long rulerA protractorVernier caliperA stop-watchThis experiment is talking about determination of gravitational acceleration using a simple pendulum fig 1 was showed that the simple pendulum was used in this experiment.ProcedureThe long piece of string and the small ball were connected.The small ball was suspended from the wooden block with the long piece of stringsuch as in figure 1The length of the long piece of string L was metrical using the ruler. Then the diameter of the small ball was measured using the vernier scale caliper. The long piece of string was not stretched. It was measured to the centre of the small ball.The small ball was raised up about 15 degrees using the protractor, and then released so that oscillations were executed.The time it took for the pendulum to complete a swing T was measured using the stop-watch to time 50 oscillations.Steps 1 to 5 were repeated for fiv e more value of L, and each part was done twice to verify the correct answer. look into 1 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 0.4 m audition 2 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 0.6 m try 3 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 0.8 mExperiment 4 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 1.0 mExperiment 5 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 1.2 m.Result CalculationBelow is a table to show the results recorded from trails 1 to 5.Experiment of determination of gravitational acceleration using a simple pendulumTrail oneTrail twoThe time taken t for 50 oscillationThe square of period TThe time taken t for 50 oscillationThe square of period TExperiment 1 length of string 0.4 m64 s1.6465 s1.69Experiment 2 length of string 0.6 m78.6 s2.4778.4 s2.46Experiment 3 length of string 0.8 m90.8 s3.3091 s3.31Experiment 4 length of string 1.0 m101.25 s4.10101.2 s4.09Experiment 5 length of string 1.2 m110.7 s4.901 10.8 s4.91The average time was calculated using the formulaThe square of period T was calculated using T times T.The information in this table can be plotted in a business enterprise graph see graph 1. The vertical axis shows that the time takenthe square of period T for 50 oscillation. The nevertheless axis shows that the different lengths of the piece of string. The gradient of the line shows the gravitational acceleration.DiscussionIn this experiment there were controlled variables. Controlled variable can be defined as one which is not allowed to change unpredictably during an experiment Answers Corporation (2010). The first controlled variable was the number of swings. Second was the angle of the swing. The last one is mass of the bob, we all kept their same. In addition, there was one experimental variable. The experimental variable can be defined as near values in experiment we change on purpose. In my experiment, the experimental variable was the length of swings.Error i s an experiment word means that mistake, especially one that causes problems or affects the result of some thing. The error can be caused when the small ball was not raised up about 15 degrees, view, the append number of oscillation are not 50.I compared with the entropy of my classmate, the square period T was proportional to the length of string s. All the points of the graph lie on a straight line so the conclusion is very reliable over this range. It seems likely that the same trend would continue if the string was made longer. I solve the equation and give way the acceleration of gravity is 9.78m/s, its not really correct. I think the biggest problem was that the small ball was not raised up about 15 degrees location and the total number of oscillation are not 50ConclusionThis experiment is talking about determination of gravitational acceleration using a simple pendulum.Firstly I used five steps to finish this experiment first I connected the long piece of string and the s mall ball. Second I Suspended The small ball from the wooden block with the long piece of stringsuch as in figure 1. Third I measured the length of the long piece of string L using the ruler and measured the diameter of the small ball using the vernier caliper. Forth I raised up the small ball about 15 degrees using the protractor. Fifth I unclasped the small and using the stop-watch to measure the time it took for the pendulum to complete a swing T.Secondly I made a graph to show my data about this experiment.Thirdly I used these data to calculate the value of gravitational acceleration.Finally I compared my result with my classmate to find mistakeIn my results, the first two purposes were proving. I measured that the gravitational acceleration is 9.78m/s, it smaller than 9.8m/s. I think one of the most important problem is the total number of oscillation are not 50. Measuring the total number of oscillation about 1.20m is easier than short lengths. Because of the speed of the leng th is 1.2m is lower than the speed of the length is 0.4mIn addition, I think my experiment is good even have some mistake. I will carefully to measure total number of oscillation I am going to try my best to let my data much exact.