Title: Physical Pendulum – Wooden Pendulum.

Objective: At the end of the session, student should be able to:-

1. Determine the Mass Moment of Inertia (IG & IO) by oscillation and manual calculation.

Introduction

The idea of a simple pendulum consists of a point mass hanging on a length of mass less sting supported
rigidly. A small weight hanging by a light string from a retort stand approximates these conditions. If
displaced slightly from equilibrium the mass will perform simple harmonic oscillation. An extended solid
object free to swing on an axis is called a physical pendulum, whose period is now dependant on the
mass moment of inertia about the rotational axis and it distance from the centre of mass2.

A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is
displaced from its resting equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will
accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position. When released, the restoring force combined with
the pendulum's mass causes it to oscillate about the equilibrium position, swinging back and forth. The
time for one complete cycle, a left swing and a right swing, is called the period. A pendulum swings with
a specific period which depends (mainly) on its length. From its discovery around 1602 by Galileo Galilei
the regular motion of pendulums was used for timekeeping, and was the world's most accurate
timekeeping technology until the 1930s.[2] Pendulums are used to regulate pendulum clocks, and are
used in scientific instruments such as accelerometers and seismometers. Historically they were used as
gravimeters to measure the acceleration of gravity in geophysical surveys, and even as a standard of
length. The word 'pendulum' is new Latin, from the Latin pendulus, meaning 'hanging'.

The simple gravity pendulum is an idealized mathematical model of a pendulum. This is a weight (or
bob) on the end of a massless cord suspended from a pivot, without friction. When given an initial push,
it will swing back and forth at a constant amplitude. Real pendulums are subject to friction and air drag,
so the amplitude of their swings declines.
Apparatus: Universal Vibration System Apparatus.

1. Wooden pendulum.
2. Vee support.
3. Ruler.
4. Stopwatch.
5. Rod support.

Universal Vibration System Apparatus.

Wooden pendulum.
Vee support.

Rod support.

Stopwatch.
Theory:

A physical pendulum is a pendulum where the pendulum mass is not concentrated at one point.
In reality all pendulums are physical, since it is not possible to achieve the ideal concentration of mass at
a single point.

An equilibrium moment is formed about the suspension point to establish the equation of
motion.

The pendulum is deflected about the angle, 𝜃. The component 𝐹 r= 𝑚 ∙ 𝑔 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 of the force
due to the weight applied with the lever arm, rG, at the center of gravity, G, likewise attempts to return
the pendulum to its initial position.

Physical pendulum with extensive mass distribution.

Given the Mass Moment of Inertia (MMI), IO, about the suspension point, o, and this result in:

𝐼 O ∙ 𝜃̈ = ∑ 𝑀

𝐼 O ∙ 𝜃̈ = − 𝑟G∙ 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃

Substitution, linearization and normalization then produce Equation of Motion for the physical
pendulum.

𝑟𝐺
𝜃̈ + 𝑚𝑔𝜃 = 0
𝐼𝑂
Calculation of the natural frequency and period of oscillation is analogous to the mathematical
pendulum.

𝑚𝑔 ∙ 𝑟𝐺
𝜔=√
𝐼𝑂

2𝜋 𝐼𝑂
𝑇= = 2𝜋 ∙ √
𝜔 𝑚𝑔 ∙ 𝑟𝐺
Procedure:

1. Wooden pendulum is hanged by a steel pin at first suspension point, O1.

2. The pendulum is allowed to oscillate from left side to right side.
3. The time taken for the pendulum to complete 10 oscillations is recorded by stopwatch.
4. Steps 2 and 3 are repeated 3 times to obtain 3 readings in order to get the average time taken
for 10 oscillations.
5. Next, the pendulum is allowed to oscillate from right side to left side.
6. The time taken for the pendulum to complete 10 oscillations is recorded by stopwatch.
7. Steps 5 and 6 are repeated 3 times to obtain 3 readings in order to get the average time taken
for 10 oscillations.
8. The wooden is hanged by a steel pin at second suspension point, O2.
9. Step 2 to 7 is repeated for the second suspension point, O2.
10. Finally, the Mass Moment of Inertia (MMI), IG and IO are determined by using the equations of
Mathematical and Physical Pendulum.
11. The value obtained is compared with the value obtained from manual calculation.
Results:

1. Time taken for 10 oscillations.

a. At first suspension point, O1.

T1, s T2, s Tavg, s

From left side 14.33 14.21 14.27

From right side 14.16 14.13 14.15

b. At second suspension point, O2.

T1, s T2, s Tavg, s

From left side 14.10 14.50 14.30

From right side 14.25 14.35 14.30

2. Dimension of wooden pendulum.
a. At first suspension point, O1.

70 cm

b. At second suspension point, O2.

72 cm

c.

1 cm 8 cm

80 cm
2.4 cm

1 cm

45 cm
Sample Calculations:

1. Volume of each component.

a. Component 1.

𝑉1 = 0.08 × 0.01 × 0.8

= 6.4 × 10−4 𝑚3

b. Component 2.

𝑉2 = 0.01 × 0.01 × 0.45

= 4.5 × 10−5 𝑚3

c. Component 3.

𝑉3 = 𝜋(0.012)2 × 0.01

= 4.524 × 10−6 𝑚3

d. Total volume of the wooden pendulum.

𝑉𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑚 = 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 − 𝑉3
= 6.4 × 10−4 − 4.524 × 10−6 − 4.5 × 10−5

= 5.9 × 10−4 𝑚3
 2. Total density of wooden pendulum.
𝑚𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝜌𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑚 =
𝑣𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑚
0.6 𝑘𝑔
=
5.9 × 10−4 𝑚3
𝑘𝑔
= 1016.13 ⁄ 3
𝑚

3. Mass of each component.

a. 𝑚1 = 𝜌 ∙ 𝑣1
= 1016.13 ∙ (6.4 × 10−4 )
= 0.65 𝑘𝑔
b. 𝑚2 = 𝜌 ∙ 𝑣2
= 1016.13 ∙ (4.5 × 10−5 )
= 45.73 × 10−3 𝑘𝑔
c. 𝑚3 = 𝜌 ∙ 𝑣3
= 1016.13 ∙ (4.524 × 10−6 )
= 4.6 × 10−3 𝑘𝑔

4. Moment of Inertia about point O1 and point O2 (Experimental Calculation)

a. Point O1.

Component Area, A (m2) 𝑦̅ (m) 𝑦̅ A (m3)

1 0.8 x 0.08 = 0.064 0.4 0.0256
2 0.45 x 0.01 = 4.5 x 10-3 0.275 1.238 x 10-3
3 𝜋 (0.012)3 = 4,524 x 10-4 0.762 3.45 x10-4
∑A = 0.0689 ∑𝑦̅ A = 0.0272

∑ 𝑦̅ A 0.0272
𝑦̅O1 = ∑𝐴
= 0.0689 = 0.395 𝑚

Component 1:

I1 = 1/12 m l² + m d²

= 1/12 (0.65)(0.8)2 + (0.6)(0.4 – 0.395)2

= 0.0347 kgm3

Component 2:
 I2 = 1/12 m l² + m d²

= 1/12 (45.73 x10-3)(0.45)2 + (45.73 x10-3)(0.395-0.275)2

= 1.43 x 10-3 kgm3

Component 3:

I3 = 1/4 m r² + m d²

= 1/4 (4.6 x10-3)(0.012)2 + (4.6 x10-3)(0.762-0.395)2

= 6.2 x 10-4 kgm3

Total:

IG1 = I1 – I2 – I3

= 0.0347 – 1.43 X 10-3 – 6.2 X10-4

= 0.03265 kgm3

Io1 = IG1 + md2

= 0.03265 + (0.6)(0.395)

= 0.1092 kgm3

b. Point O2.

Component Area, A (m2) 𝑦̅ (m) 𝑦̅ A (m3)

1 0.8 x 0.08 = 0.064 0.4 0.0256
2 0.45 x 0.01 = 4.5 x 10-3 0.525 2.3265 x 10-3
3 𝜋 (0.012)3 = 4,524 x 10-4 0.038 1.719 x10-5
∑A = 0.0689 ∑𝑦̅ A = 0.028

∑ 𝑦̅ A 0.028
𝑦̅O2 = ∑𝐴
= 0.0689 = 0.4061 𝑚

Component 1:

I1 = 1/12 m l² + m d²

= 1/12 (0.65)(0.8)2 + (0.65)(0.4061 – 0.4)2

= 0.0347 kgm3

Component 2:
 I2 = 1/12 m l² + m d²

= 1/12 (45.73 x10-3)(0.45)2 + (45.73 x10-3)(0.525 – 0.4061)2

= 1.418 x 10-3 kgm3

Component 3:

I3 = 1/4 m r² + m d²

= 1/4 (4.6 x10-3)(0.012)2 + (4.6 x10-3)(0.4061-0.038)2

= 6.234 x 10-4 kgm3

Total:

IG2 = I1 – I2 – I3

= 0.0347 – 1.418 X 10-3 – 6.234 X10-4

= 0.03266 kgm3

Io2 = IG2 + md2

= 0.03266 + (0.6)(0.4061)

= 0.2763 kgm3

5. Moment of Inertia about point O1 and point O2 (Theoretical Calculation)

a. O1

Tavg = 14.21 s

Therefore:

T1 oscilations = 14.21 / 10 =1.421 sec

T1 oscilations = 2π LR1

L01 = g T1 oscilations

2π

= 9.81 1.421

2π

L01 = 0.5018 m

IG1 = m rG ( L01 - rG )

= 0.6(0.355) (0.5018 - 0.355)

= 0.0313kg m³

IO1 = IG1 + m rG²

= 0.0313 + 0.6 (0.355) ²

= 0.1069 kg m²

b. O2
 Tavg = 14.30s

Therefore:

T1 oscilations = 13.98/ 10 =1.398 sec

T2 oscilations = 2π LR1

L02 = g T2 oscilations

2π

= 9.81 1.398

2π

L02 = 0.4857 m

IG2 = m rG ( L02 - rG )

= 0.6(0.355) (0.4857 - 0.355)

= 0.0278 kg m³

I02 = IG02 + m rG²

= 0.0278 + 0.6 (0.355) ²

= 0.1034 kg m²

6. Percentage Error.
 For IO1, percentage of error % = (0.1092– 0.1042) x 100%
0.1092

= 4.58%

For IG1, percentage of error % = (0.0326 – 0.0285) x 100%

0.0326

= 12.71 %

For I02, percentage of error % = (0.2763 – 0.1034) x 100%

0.2763

= 62.58%

For IG2, percentage of error % = (0.0326 – 0.0278) x 100%

0.0326

= `14.88%

Point Moment of Theoretical Experimental Value(kg m³) Percentage Error (%)

Inertia Value (kg m³)

IO1 0.1092 0.1042 5.39

O1

IG1 0.0326 0.0285 15.16

IO2 0.2763 0.1034 18.76

O2

IG2 0.0326 0.0278 17.33

Abstract:
 From the experiment that we have done, we found that there are some differences
between the values of IO and IG for both from experiment data and also from theoretical
formula calculation. We had discussed for the potential factor that cause to the differences.
We found that there cause of might be comes from how the experiment happened.
The wooden pendulum oscillates non uniform motion especially when its suspended at
second point O2. Based on the experiment, it is found that the yield of IG and IO from both
suspension points is totally different although they share the same value of mass of the
wooden pendulum. The period is also different for the both point set. After data was taken,
we obtained the period of oscillation, T1 and T2 from those two different suspension point.
Hence, after getting T value, we then can measure the value of IG and IO. The errors that
occur are might due to several unwanted errors such as disturbing from surrounding and
human error. The time for 10 oscillations was taken manually by using stopwatch. By the
end of this experiment, we are able to calculate the value of IG & IO by using the theory and
we have meet the objective. As a conclusion, we had done the experiment successfully.
References:

1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, Eight Edition in SI units, Ferdinand P. Beer, E.
Russell Johnston, Jr, and William E. Clausen, Singapore, 2007.
Appendix:

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