How to Measure Acceleration due to Gravity using Pendulum Experiment

How to Measure Acceleration due to Gravity using Pendulum Experiment

Gravity plays such an important role in our every lives. The acceleration due to gravity can be measured in a number of ways. In this assignment you and your team will be charged with measuring the acceleration due to gravity using a pendulum consisting of a mass and string.

pendulum

Image credit: Hypnosistrainingacademy.com

Instructions:

  1. You will need a small mass such as metal nut, fishing sinker etc, a piece of string, any other measurement instrument or tool that you think might be useful. A mass and string can be provided to you if you can’t obtain any.
  2. Measure the period of oscillation for different lengths of the pendulum. At least 5 lengths should be measured and each length should be measured a number of times for better accuracy and certainty.
  3. Plot your results on a graph and, from the graph, determine the acceleration due to gravity. This assignment requires you to demonstrate analysing skills using graphing techniques. Your graph must also show the errors in your measurements.

Assessment:

  • This assignment is worth 3 marks overall.
  • Solutions to be submitted to the assessment dropbox by 5th October at 5 pm.
  • This is activity can be done individually or in a team of up to 3 members.

Submission:

Only one submission is required for each team.

Your submission must be typed in a word processing software such as MS Word and must be submitted in either Word or pdf format to ensure that the file can be read by the Turnitin plagiarism software. Photocopy scans or images will not be accepted.

Click on the assessment rubric in the dropbox (bottom right of screen) to view the assessment criteria and expectations.

 

Answer preview:

Word: 600