Copyright © Michael Richmond.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Use your measurements to find 'g'
- Write down the general formula for the angular frequency ω
of a simple pendulum.
- Starting with this formula, derive an expression for the
period of a simple pendulum, given its length L
and gravitational acceleration g.
Then square both sides.
- Explain how this expression is related to your graph (from last class)
of the period squared versus the length of your pendulum.
- Use the data on your graph to calculate the value of g
in our classroom.
If possible, estimate a range -- say, a best-fit value
as well as a maximum and minimum value.
- Compare your result to the accepted value of g,
and to values derived by at least two other
groups of students.
If your value does not agree with the accepted
value, can you explain why?
Copyright © Michael Richmond.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.