PASCO ME-9833 Physical Pendulum Set - Manual (Page 29)

Physical Pendulum Set Model No. ME-9833
29
®
Sample Data for Experiment 4: Use a Physical Pendulum to Measure the
Acceleration Due to Gravity, g.
The following are typical data for the experiment.
Data Section
Length of pendulum bar, a: 0.28 m Width of pendulum bar, b: 0.015 m
Mass of pendulum bar, M: 0.70 kg
Average period of oscillation, T: 0.876 s
Distance from pivot to center of gravity, L
cg
: 0.14 m
Calculated value for the moment of inertia about the center of gravity, I
cg
: 0.0004586 kg m
2
Calculated value for acceleration due to gravity, g: 9.608 m/s
2
Percent difference: 1.95%
Questions
1. How does the calculated value for g based on the period compare to the accepted value for g,
9.8 m/s
2
?
The calculated value for g compares relatively well to the accepted value for g.
2. Do your results confirm that the acceleration due to gravity, g, can be measured
accurately using a physical pendulum? Why or why not?
The results confirm that the acceleration due to gravity, g, can be measured accurately using a
physical pendulum. The calculated value based on the measured period is very close to the accepted
value.