AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 1
Summer 2020-2021
Section: A, Group: 2

LAB REPORT ON
To determine the acceleration due to gravity applying linear least square
regression method by using a simple pendulum.

Supervised By
DR. SHOVAN KUMAR KUNDU

Submitted By
Name ID Contribution
1. CHOWDHURY, AHMED 20-43900-2 Experimental Data, Discussion
RAFIN

2. AKTER, MOST ASIYA 21-44386-1 Theory, Discussion, Reference

3. HAQUE, ASHRAFUL 21-44391-1 Analysis and Calculation, Discussion

4. DUTI, FABLIHA HASNIN 21-44396-1 Procedure, Discussion, Reference

5. MAHABUB, SYEDA FAIZA 21-44432-1 Apparatus, Result, Discussion

Date of Submission: 30 May 2021

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1
II. Table of Content 2

1. Theory 3

2. Apparatus 5

3. Procedure 5
4. Experimental Data 6

5. Analysis and Calculation 6

6. Result 8
7. Discussion 8
8. References 9

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 2 of 9

 1. Theory
Theoretically, the period of a pendulum is independent of its mass, and depends on length according
to the power-law relationship
𝑇 ∝ √𝐿
Where, T is the period of oscillation and L is the length.
This result can be determined using a dimensional-analysis approach. The independence of mass is a
result of the fact that all objects are accelerated towards the center of the earth with the same
acceleration of gravity.

Figure Error! No text of specified style in document..1.1: A swinging simple pendulum with an effective length L and
amplitude θ

A simple pendulum consists of a point mass suspended from an inextensible string of negligible mass. When displaced
from equilibrium, the mass oscillates in simple harmonic motion (SHM). In the small angle approximation (for 𝜃 < 10,
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ≈ 𝜃 in radians) the period of oscillation T, is related to the length of the pendulum L, by
"#!
𝑇! = $
L

Comparing this equation with the state line equation that goes through the origin (y = mx) the value
of acceleration due to gravity g, can be determined by
4𝜋 !
𝑔=
𝑚
For two types (independent and dependent) of variables x and y = f(x) the linear least square
regression method can be used for N number of data points to find the best fitted line (regression line)
as the Figure 1.2 shows.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 3 of 9

 Figure 1.2: Way to get the best fitted line by finding the minimum value of D according to the LLSR method

Way to get the best fitted line by finding the minimum value of D=𝑑%! +𝑑!! +𝑑&! +𝑑"! +𝑑'! +𝑑(! +𝑑)!
according to the least square regression method. The equation for the best fitted line is y = mx + c,
where m is the slope and c is the interception in the y axis. Here the number of data points is taken as
N=7.
The formula for determining the slope of the regression line
(∑" -" )(∑" /" )
∑* 𝑥* 𝑦* −
0
𝑚 = (∑" -" )!
∑* 𝑥*! −
0
2
where m is the slope of the T vs L graph and intercept 𝑐 = 𝑦 − 𝑚𝑥, where x̅ and y̅ are mean value of
x and y.
In the slope equation:
Σ𝑥𝑖= 𝑥1+𝑥2+𝑥3+𝑥4+𝑥5+𝑥6+𝑥7
Σ𝑦𝑖= 𝑦1+𝑦2+𝑦3+𝑦4+𝑦5+𝑦6+𝑦7
Σ𝑥𝑖𝑦𝑖= 𝑥1𝑦1+𝑥2𝑦2+𝑥3𝑦3+𝑥4𝑦4+𝑥5𝑦5+𝑥6𝑦6+𝑥7𝑦7
(Σ𝑥𝑖)2= (𝑥1+𝑥2+𝑥3+𝑥4+𝑥5+𝑥6+𝑥7)2
Σ𝑥𝑖2= 𝑥12+ 𝑥22+𝑥32+𝑥42+𝑥52+ 𝑥62+𝑥72

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 4 of 9

 2. Apparatus
To construct a Simple Pendulum:
1. Metal bob
2. A piece of string
3. Stand and Clamp
Measurement of L & T:

1. Meter Scale

2. Stopwatch.

3. Procedure
1. A light piece of string was attached with the hook of the metal bob. The L of the pendulum was
150 which was measured by a meter scale from the point of suspension to the mid-point of the
bob.
2. The pendulum was given a little swing for the small angle which can’t be more than 5 degree
or less than 10 degrees. The time period, T was found. Total time was measured for 20 oscillation
and was divided by 20. The data in table 1.1 was recorded by repeating the procedure for
different lengths.
3. The regression line was found by using the Linear Least Square Regression Method (LLSRM)
and the g from the relation: slope = 4π2/g was found from the value of slope.
4.The same graph was plotted in Excel and the value of g from the equation of the graph was also
found.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 5 of 9

 4. Experimental Data
Table 1.1: Time Periods T for different lengths L of the simple pendulum

Effective Time for 20

No. Time Period
Length Oscillation T2 L2 L T2
of T = t/20
L T (s2) (cm2) (cms2)
Obs. (s)
(cm) (s)

1 150 48.12 2.406 5.788836 22500 868.3254

2 140 46.18 2.309 5.331481 19600 746.40734

3 130 45.28 2.264 5.125696 16900 666.34048

4 120 43.1 2.155 4.644025 14400 557.283

5 110 42.5 2.125 4.515625 12100 496.71875

6 100 39.45 1.9725 3.89075625 10000 389.075625

7 90 38.32 1.916 3.671056 8100 330.39504

å 840 302.95 15.1475 32.9674753 103600 4054.54564

5. Analysis and Calculation

Table 1.2: Finding the slope, m and intercept, c by using the linear least square regression method

N ∑! 𝑥! ∑! 𝑦! ∑! 𝑥! 𝑦! (∑! 𝑥! )" ∑! 𝑥!" m c

7 840 32.97 4054.55 705600 103600 0.035 0.51

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 6 of 9

 A. The Value of g using the LLSRM:
(∑" -" )(∑" /" )
∑* 𝑥* 𝑦* − 4054.55 − 3956.4
0
𝑚 = (∑" -" )!
= = 0.035
∑* 𝑥*! − 103600 − 100800
0

∑* 𝑥* 840
𝑥= = = 120
𝑁 7
∑* 𝑦* 32.97
𝑦= = = 4.71
𝑁 7

Intercept, 𝑐 = 𝑦 − 𝑚𝑥 = 4.71 − (0.035 × 120) = 0.51

4𝜋 ! 4𝜋 !
Acceleration due to gravity by LLSRM, 𝑔1 = = = 1127.95 𝑐𝑚𝑠 !
𝑚 0.035

B. The value of g from the graph of Excel:

Slope of the regression line, m = 0.0352

4𝜋 ! 4𝜋 !
Acceleration due to gravity by Excel, 𝑔2 = = = 1121.545955
𝑚 0.0352

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 7 of 9

 C. Percentage of difference in g between Excel and LLSARM:

𝑔2 ~ 𝑔1 1121.545955~1127.95
× 100 = × 100 = 0.57%
𝑔2 1121.545955

6. Result:
Method Equation Value of g (ms2) Comment

LLSRM 4𝜋 ! 11.2795 𝑚𝑠 ! We have found

𝑔1 =
𝑚 small difference in
Excel 4𝜋 ! 11.21545955 𝑚𝑠 !
the value of g.
𝑔2 =
𝑚

7. Discussion:
We were told to determine the acceleration due to gravity applying linear least square
regression method by using a simple pendulum. From the 100 cm scale we need to determine
the length of 100cm first and then 50 cm of the thread and then we tie the 50 cm with the bob.
Then we confirm the length from the point of suspension to the bob is 150 cm with a
measuring instrument. Then after assuring that the bob is in equilibrium, we need to make it
to and fro pushing not more than 5degree angle. Then with the help of stopwatch we need to
count 20 oscillations. Then shortening the length of the thread to 10 cm we repeat the process
and continue doing it for 130,120,110,100 and 90 respectively. So, we had to face many
challenges as we needed to synchronize the movement with time of the stopwatch. Some
errors were found for the external factors from the wind force of the fan and pushing the bob
harder than needed. So, we made sure that there was no external factor affecting our project
and we had to do the tasks very carefully with the supervision of teacher. This is how we
were able to conduct this lab experiment and make the results as approximate as possible.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 8 of 9

 8. References
1. Fundamentals of Physics: Acceleration due to gravity (Chapter 13, page 360), Simple
pendulum (Chapter 15, page 425-426)
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02w9lSii_Hs
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJKEN43695k
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T0z8d0_aY4
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C3olrs1CUw

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 9 of 9