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1
KATERS PENDULUM PHYSICS (LAB MANUAL)
Introduction
W2
K2
R
l2
l1
K1
W1
G - Center of gravity
R - Metallic rod
K1, K2 - Movable knife edges
W1 - Metallic cylinder
W2 - Wooden cylinder
W1, W2 are to be placed beyond K1and K2 and can be moved along R
W - metallic weight to be kept near the center of rod and can be moved
for adjustments
Apparatus
Katers Pendulum
Telescope
Stop watch
Meter scale
Sharp wedge
Rigid support
Theory
L and 4 2 L
T 2 g
g T2
Hence, g may be calculated.
If T1 and T2 represent two nearly equal time periods (in sec) for positions of K 1
and K2 distant l1 and l2 (in cm) from C.G., then we can write
l1 k 2 and l2 k 2
2 2
T1 2 T2 2.
gl1 gl2
2 2
gl1T1 gl2T2
l1 k 2 l2 k 2
2 2
Hence, and
4 2
4 2
8 2 T1 T2 T T2
2 2 2 2
1
g l1 l 2 l1 l 2
Since T1~T2 and positions of K1 and K2 are asymmetrical about C.G, l1-l2 is fairly
large. Hence, the second term in the denominator is negligibly small and thus, an
approximate value of l1-l2 is sufficient.
Therefore,
8 2
g (1)
T1 T2 T T2
2 2 2 2
1
l1 l 2 l1 l 2
where
g = Acceleration due to gravity in cm/s2
T1 = Time period about K1 in seconds
T2 = Time period about K2 in seconds
l1 = Distance of K1 from C.G. in cm
l2 = Distance of K2 from C.G. in cm
Learning Outcomes
Pre-lab Assessment
Now to know whether you are ready to carry out the experiment in the
lab, pick the correct answer from the following. If you score at least
80%, you are ready, otherwise read the preceding text again. (Answers
are given at the end of this experiment.)
Procedure
1. Determine the middle point of the rod and fix the smaller metal weight W
there. Fix the brass weight W1 near one end of the Katers pendulum (5 cm
from end 1) and the knife edge K1 just below it (at a distance of about 2 cm).
2. Similarly, adjust the wooden weight W2 and the knife edge K2 at the other end
(end 2) of the pendulum with the same symmetry. The metallic and wooden
cylinders are placed at different ends to eliminate viscous drag of air and to
make the C.G. asymmetrical about the knife edges .Screw all the five tightly.
Knife edges must be sharp, horizontal and parallel to each other so that the
oscillations are confined to a vertical plane
3. Suspend the pendulum vertically about K1 and focus the telescope at the tip
of its lower end. Set it oscillating with amplitude of about 4-5 degrees for the
motion to remain simple harmonic. Note the time for 30 oscillations using a
stop watch.
4. Now suspend the pendulum vertically about K2 and repeat step 3.This time
will be quite different from that about K1.
5. Keep moving K1 and K2 towards W by small distance (approx. 1 cm) and
repeat steps 3 and 4 till the difference in time about K 1 and K2 is less than one
second. If at any stage the time difference increases, then K 1 and K2 should
be moved towards W.
6. Now, move the weight W and repeat step 5 to reduce the time difference to
about 0.5 second.
7. The apparatus is ready to record the measurements. Suspend the pendulum
about K1 and K2 vertically and record the time taken for 100 oscillations.
Repeat this 5 times each.
8. Remove the pendulum from support and place it horizontally on a wedge.
Balance it and find the C.G. of the system.
9. Measure the distances l1 and l2 from C.G. to the knife edges K1 and K2.
10. Here, after the initial adjustments (steps1-2), measure the time for 30
oscillations about K1 and K2. Balance the pendulum on the wedge to mark the
C.G. Then measure l1 and l2.
11. After this, move K1 and K2 by 2 cm each towards the center of the rod.
12. Again measure the time for 30 oscillations about K 1 and K2, Mark the C.G. and
measure l1 and l2.
13. Repeat the process 8-9 times by moving K1 and K2 towards each other in
steps. Repeat step 12.
Observations
Table 1
Table 2
Calculations
T1 = ------ sec
T2 = ------ sec
l1 = ------ cm
l2 = ------ cm
Substitute in the Equation (1) and obtain the value of g.
Draw a graph (Figure 2) of l1 v/s T1 and l2 v/s T2 on the same graph sheet.
1.8
T1x Line 1x
1.75
T1y Line 1y
Draw two horizontal lines (line 1x and line 1y, as shown in the graph in Figure 2)
on the graph intersecting the two experimental lines.
To find g1, use T1 = T2 = T1x, l1 = l1x and l2 = l2x in Equation (1) and obtain g1.
To find g2, use T1 = T2 = T1y, l1 = l1y and l2 = l2y in Equation (1) and obtain g2.
Estimation of error
8 2
g
T1 T2 T1 T2
2 2 2 2
l1 l2 l1 l2
Differentiating logarithmically, we have
g
X Y (2)
g X Y
where
T1 T2
2 2
X
l1 l2
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
8
PHYSICS (LAB MANUAL) KATERS PENDULUM
and
T1 T2
2 2
Y
l1 l2
X
T12 T2 2 l l 2T
1 2 2l
X T1 T2
2 2
l1 l2 T l1 l2
Since T1 ~T2. Here T corresponds to the smallest division of the stop watch
and l to the smallest division of the meter scale. Thus, X can be evaluated.
Also,
Y 4T1T 2l
Y T1 T2
2 2
l1 l2
Using above equation Y can also be calculated. The values of X, Y, X and Y
g
may then be used to find using Equation (2) and hence, the log error.
g
Percentage error
Result
Glossary
Post-lab Assessment
(1) When the distance of the point of suspension from the centre of gravity
increases, the time period of a compound pendulum
a) increases
b) decreases
c) remains constant
d) first decreases then increases
(2) As we go down below the surface of earth, the value of g
a) increases
b) decreases
c) first increases then decreases
d) does not change
(3) The difference in the value of g at equator and poles is equal to
a) radius of earth (R)
b) angular velocity of earth ()
c) R
d) R2
(4) If we interchange the center of suspension and center of oscillation, the time
period of compound pendulum
a) increases
b) decreases
c) remains same
d) cannot be predicted
(5) The length of an equivalent simple pendulum is equal to
a) the distance of the point of suspension from C.G.
b) radius of gyration (k)
c) (k2+l2)/l
d) infinite
(6) Which instrument is expected to give more accurate value of g?
a) simple pendulum
b) Katers pendulum
c) bar pendulum
d) mass spring system
1. c
2. b
3. c
4. d
5. b
1. d
2. b
3. d
4. c
5. c
6. b
7. b
8. a
9. b