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Determination by simple harmonic motion of the acceleration due to gravity

O N Oname Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Southampton Southampton UK Abstract The acceleration due to gravity has been measured by timing the oscillations of different masses of water in a glass U tube. The value obtained for g was 9.9 0.7 m s-2 . . !ntroduction The period of a system undergoing simple harmonic motion (S !" can be measured very precisely# The period of the S ! depends both on the mass of the system and the strength of the force tending to restore the system to its e$uilibrium state %&rench '()'* +ason '(((,# Therefore an oscillating system in -hich the restoring force is provided by the local gravitational field may be used to measure the acceleration due to gravity very precisely# ere -e report the results from a simple harmonic system consisting of a mass of -ater contained in a glass U tube in -hich the viscous damping forces acting on the -ater are made negligible# 2. Theoretical model &igure ' sho-s the instantaneous position of a mass of -ater in a U tube# The displacement of the -ater from its e$uilibrium level is represented by x, measured in one of the arms of the U tube# The restoring force acting on the -hole mass of -ater is then .ust the -eight of the displaced -ater in the right hand arm of column height /x 0 F = m/x g ('" -here m is the mass per unit length of the -ater column# 1f the total mass of the -ater column is m then the e$uation of motion is0
m x = m / x g

(/"

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/ 6hich defines the angular fre$uency of S !0

/ =

m /g m

(7"

"igure . 8ross section of the U tube containing -ater displaced from its e$uilibrium level#

1f L is the total length of the column of -ater in the U tube#* -e can -rite for the total mass of -ater0 m = mL (9" and therefore the angular fre$uency of oscillation can be -ritten0
/ =
/g L

(:"

The period of oscillation is then given by0

/ T/ =
/

= / /

L g

(;"

This e$uation sho-s that a value for g can be obtained from the gradient of a graph of T/ plotted against L#

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7 #. $aterials and methods The diameter of the U tube needs to be large enough to minimise the effects of viscosity* and the length should be enough to contain sufficient mass of -ater so that the oscillations are slo- enough to measure# The diameter of U tube used -as about /< mm and the overall length -as about 7<< mm# The -ater partially filled the U tube so that the e$uilibrium level -as in the straight portion of the tube arms# The -ater -as set oscillating -ith an amplitude of a fe- centimetres by blo-ing do-n one limb of the tube# The time for '< periods of oscillation -as measured -ith a stop cloc=# A rubber band -as placed around the tube at the e$uilibrium -ater level and the oscillations -ere timed as the meniscus passed this mar=# >y this means the time readings -ere ta=en -hen the velocity of the -ater -as largest and the point on the oscillations most clearly defined# The uncertainty in measurement of T -as estimated to be about /?# The measurement of 2 is difficult* because of the curved section of U tube* but the depth h of the -ater surface belo- some fi3ed reference level can be measured easily# Then the $uantity L @ /h is constant and the period is given by0
T/ = / / /h + C g

()"

-here C is a constant# !ore -ater -as added and the measurements of period T and the e$uilibrium position of the -ater surface h -ere measured for nine different amounts of -ater# The uncertainty in the measurement of h -as about <#/? of the largest measurement# %. &esults and discussion &igure / sho-s the results plotted as T/ versus h* -ith estimates of the uncertainty in each measurement sho-n as a bar#

"igure 2#

Period of -ater oscillation s$uared versus position of -ater e$uilibrium level#

There is no evidence of a systematic departure of the data from a straight line but there is considerable scatter in the individual points# A straight line -as therefore fitted to the e3perimental points* sho-n as a solid line in figure /# The gradient of this
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9 graph corresponds to a value of g of (#( A <#) m sB/ # '. (onclusion The value of the acceleration due to gravity -as found to be (#( A <#) m sB/ as measured from the oscillations of a column of -ater in a glass U tube at the surface of the +arth# 1t is concluded that the method is not capable of yielding results -ith an uncertainty of less than a fe- percent# This does not approach the accuracy that might be e3pected of a resonant system#* and therefore the search for high precision measurements should be e3tended to other resonance phenomena# ). &eferences +ason C 6* '((( Oscillations and 6aves (Physics course year '* University of Southampton"# &rench A P* '()' Dibrations and 6aves (Nelson* 2ondon"

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Tutorial notes on preparation of your paper

This e3ercise is to be done with a word processor in -ee=s '' and '/ of the second semester# The deadline for submission is the end of -ee= '/# The task is to -rite up a part of the -or= you did in either of the first year e3perimental modules# The aim is to learn ho- to communicate your -or= effectively E so =eep your -riteBup short# The method is based on providing you -ith a model to study and emulate* and some e3planatory notes are included belo- on -hat to put in the various sections# The marking scheme is included at the end of these notes as a guide to the important features to focus on in this first e3ercise# Four paper -ill be mar=ed by your tutor* from -hom feedback should be sort that -ill help you in the second e3ercise* -hich happens in the first term of the second year# Abstract This should be a brief account of -hat has been done* ho- it -as done* and -hat the main result -as -ith your estimate of its uncertainty of measurement# !ntroduction 6rite in as direct and clear a -ay as possible the broader conte3t of the -or=* the aim of your contribution and -hy it is interesting# Say e3tremely briefly ho- you got the measurements* so that you could s=ip straight to the 8onclusion and get the overall picture# Theoretical model 6ith the aid of a simple a diagram sho- ho- the theoretical model is set up* and hoto use it to -or= out -hat measurements to ma=e# DonGt -orry too much about using the -ord processor to construct any e$uations E -rite them in by hand# 1f you -ould li=e to try the e$uation editor in $* +ord then select !nsert then ,b-ect then $icrosoft ./uation #.0 from the menu bar (number all e$uations se$uentially"# Diagrams (including graphs" may also be dra-n or traced by hand in blac= in= (number all these figures se$uentially"# o-ever if you already =no- ho- to use a dra-ing pac=age* or -ant to learn* you may use it but you should not spend too much time on it# $aterials and methods (alternative title .01erimental methods" This section should describe the essential features of the apparatus E use a diagram if this -ill help to sho- ho- the important measurements -ere made# 6rite about hothe e3periment -as done* particularly those features -hich -ill help -ith interpreting the results section# A description of the factors -hich contribute to the uncertainty of the measurements could also be included here# &esults and discussion Set the results out here along -ith any e3planation of graphs* symbols* derived results etc# Discussion and interpretation of the results can be included here* but use a separate section if e3tended discussion is re$uired# Do not include any tables of results unless you need the e3tra precision it -ould ma=e possible (in order to ma=e a specific point in the te3t"* or perhaps to ma=e your ra- data available in an appendi3 for others
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; to analyse your results# (onclusion 6rite brief and clear conclusions here -ith any pointers you may have for the future direction of e3periments on the topic you are reporting# Fou should be able to read the 1ntroduction and 8onclusion together* in one piece* and get a clear HthumbnailG s=etch of the e3periment# &eferences 2ist references here in any of the standard -ays that regular scientific .ournals use# 8hec= them out in the library if you are not sure E particularly the (UK 1nstitute of Physics" Iournal of Physics series and the (USA" Physical Cevie-# Here are some examples: A2 1n the te3t use numbers (in ascending order from the beginning for each nereference"* for e3ample J1t has been sho-n %', that # # #K 1n &eferences list in numerical order0 %', %/, Anon* +ffects of se3ual activity on beard gro-th in man* Nature* 22)* L;(* '()<# #####

32 Another useful scheme $uotes the first author and the date of the publication* for e3ample JA detailed investigation (&arrell et al# '(;(" establishes that # # # # This problem has been considered by 8andlestic=ma=er ('()/"#K 1n the &eferences* list alphabetically0 8andlestic=ma=er S ('()/" On the imperturbability of elevator operators 2D11* 4uarterly Iournal of the Coyal Astronomical Society* #* ;7# &arell 6+* !cKenMie DP and Par=er C2 ('(;(" On the note emitted from a mug -hile mi3ing instant coffee* Proc 8amb Phil Soc )'* 7;:B 7;)#

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Tutors4 mar5ing scheme

This e3ercise counts -ith the -eight of t-o laboratory e3periments# !ACK S=eleton0 The paper should have0 title6 author6 address6 abstract6 and headed sections# 1f any of these elements are missing B subtract mar5 Does it say -hat -as done and have numerical results -ith their uncertainties been includedN Cead together* do these ade$uately introduce and summarise the e3perimentN Are the essential principles of the method clearly set outN Does this e3plain ho- the measurements -ere madeN Are the graphs ade$uately annotated E caption* a3is labels etc#N 1f superfluous tables are included E subtract mar5. Are these correctly and clearly set outN 6hat is your overall .udgement of the $uality of the paperN TOTAL Out of a ma3imum of0 B' / 9 / / : B' / 7

Abstract 1ntroductionOconclu sion +3perimental design +3perimental method Cesults

Ceferences Overall impression

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