PASCO ME-9833 Physical Pendulum Set User Manual

Page 17

Physical Pendulum Set

Model No. ME-9833

Analysis

1. Calculate the moment of inertia using the period, T, the mass, M, and the distance from the

pivot point to the center of gravity, L

2. Record the calculated value for the moment of inertia in the Data Section.

Measurement: Moment of Inertia

Equipment Setup

1. Set up the Rotary Motion Sensor horizontally on a support rod with the three step pulley on

top. Start the DataStudio program on the computer and connect the sensor to the computer
interface.

2. Mount a Super Pulley with Clamp to the platform area at the end of the sensor opposite to

the support rod.

3. Connect a string to one of the steps on the three step pulley and drape the string over the

Super Pulley. Adjust the angle of the Super Pulley with Clamp so that the string is tangent
to the step on the three step pulley.

4. Use calipers to carefully measure the diameter of the step to which you attached the

string. Calculate the radius of the step and record it in the Data Section.

5. Put the solid disk onto the shaft of the sensor above the three step pulley. Secure it in

place with one of the mounting screws.

6. Measure and record the mass, m, of a mass hanger.

7. Attach the mass hanger to the end of the string that is draped over the Super Pulley.

Data Recording

1. Wind the string about the step pulley so that the mass hanger is just below the Super Pulley.

Hold the irregular shape in place.

2. Start recording data and then release the irregular shape so that it rotates freely.

3. Stop recording data when the mass hanger reaches its lowest point.

4. Repeat the process a total of three times.

Analysis

Find the moment of inertia about the center of gravity.

1. Set up a graph display in the software of angular velocity versus time.

MgL

------------------------- ML

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