Does this experiment help distinguish between non-inertial and inertial frames of reference?
Aim:
To calculate and the rate of acceleration due to gravity by investigating the gravitational effects on the oscillatory motion of an average pendulum.
Apparatus:
Method:
Aim:
To calculate and the rate of acceleration due to gravity by investigating the gravitational effects on the oscillatory motion of an average pendulum.
Apparatus:
- Retort Stand
- Clamp
- Boss Head
- String 1- meter
- Mass Carrier
- Mass 50g
- Metre Rule
- Stopwatch
- Large Protractor
Method:
- Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram above.
- Collect a mass carrier and tie it strongly to a string.
- Pick up the mass carries by the string and have another member of the group carefully measure 1 of the string starting from the base of the mass carrier.
- Record the length of the pendulum. Attach the string to the clamp really tightly and ensure that you still have 1 meter from the top to the bottom of the string.
- Ensure that the vicinity is free of any obstructions to the swinging pendulum.
- If necessary place a g-clamp or excess weight on the retort stand to stop the retort stand from absorbing the motion energy of the pendulum by vibrating.
- Reset all stop watches and gently move the pendulum from equilibrium to a measured distance of 15º or less using a large protractor. Ensure the angle of deviation from the vertical is measured properly and is kept the same throughout all trials.
- Carefully release of the mass from the deviated angle and allow it to swing for 2-3 swings and lose some of the vibrations that may have been transferred.
- Activating the stopwatch as the string oscillation commences a new period.
- Continue timing the pendulum until it has moved through 10 complete oscillations (periods) and record the times.
- Repeat steps 3 through 9 a total of 5 more times. However before each new set shorten the string by 10 cm of its length. Ensure that the deviation angle is controlled for constancy through all trials.
- Use the equation g = 4π2l/T2 and determine g for each result and finally perform necessary calculation to determine the average.
- Represent the results graphically by plotting a graph for period squared vs. length. Draw the line of best fit.
- Use the gradient of the line and sub into equation g = 4π2 1/m
- Write a conclusion for the experiment and outline which final result is valid and why this is so.