Rigid Pendula

 

Code Number: 3A15.20

Demo Title: Physical Pendula

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Potential to Kinetic Energy, Simple Harmonic Motion

Area of Study: Oscillations & Acoustics

Equipment: 

Rigid Pendula.

Procedure:

The rigid Pendula are used to show the characteristic differences of a pendulum that has the weight distributed through the length of the pendulum.

A simple pendulum with a length 2/3's of a physical pendulum will have the same period.  In our case a 66 cm long simple pendulum has the same period as our 1 m physical pendulum.

Theoretically, the physical pendulum will have the same period when swung from the end of the pendulum or from a point approximately 29 cm from the end.  In our case since the pivot point on the end is inward 1/2 cm, the other equal period point is at 32 cm from the end.

References:

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  • Julius Sumner Miller, "Another Enchanting Thought", TPT, Vol. 17, #3, Mar. 1979, p. 152.
  • George Oleh Kolodiy, "An Experiment with a Physical Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 17, #1, Jan. 1979, p. 52.
  • L. C. Corrado, "The Meter Stick Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 12, #8, Nov. 1974, p. 494.
  • George W. Horton, "Some Laboratory Work With Physical Pendulums", TPT, Vol. 4, #2, Feb. 1966, p. 78.
  • H. Hauptfleisch, T. Gasenzer, K. Meier, O. Nachtmann, and J. Schemmel, "A Computer Controlled Pendulum With Position Readout", AJP, Vol. 78, #6, June 2010, p. 555.
  • John C. Simbach and Joseph Priest, "Another Look at a Damped Physical Pendulum", AJP, Vol. 73, #11, Nov. 2005, p. 1079.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr. and Aaron J. Owens, "Reconstructed Nineteenth-Century Experiment with Physical Pendula", AJP, Vol. 48, #6, June 1980, p. 487.
  • Paul O. Hoffmann, "A Mechanics Demonstration", AJP, Vol. 23, #9, Dec. 1955, p. 624.
  • M-904: "Pendula - Torsion & Physical", DICK and RAE Demo Notebook.
  • Julius Sumner Miller, "Forces and Masses", Physics Fun and Demonstrations, p. 98.
  • Yaakov Kraftmakher, "2.2, Pendulum", Experiments and Demonstrations in Physics, ISBN 981-256-602-3, p. 84.
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  • George W. Horton, "Some Laboratory Work with Physical Pendulums," Apparatus for Teaching Physics.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "8.3 - Period of a Physical Pendulum", Why Toast Lands Jelly-Side Down, p. 123 - 124.
3A15.20 - Physical Penulum

 

3A15.20 - University of Maryland QOTW #38