Calculating Altitude Using a Pendulum: A Simple Guide

  • Thread starter Thread starter sebasalekhine7
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Altitude Pendulum
AI Thread Summary
To measure altitude using a pendulum, the period of the pendulum (T) is related to the length (l) and gravitational acceleration (g) with the formula T=2π√(l/g). The gravitational acceleration at height h above the Earth's surface can be calculated using g=GM_E/((R_E+h)²), where R_E is the average radius of the Earth. The average radius can be determined through the polar and equatorial radii. While 'g' changes slightly with altitude, it can still be effectively measured using this method. Understanding these formulas allows for altitude calculations based on pendulum measurements.
sebasalekhine7
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
How can I measure altitude depending on the period of a pendulum? I know I have to calculate the value for g but I don't know how exactly altitude could be calculated.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Within "human limits",'g' is very weakly dependent upon altitude,but certainly,in principle,one can measure its values using a pendulum...

T=2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}

g=\frac{GM_{E}}{(\bar{R}_{E}+h)^{2}}

Daniel.
 
Sorry, but can you explain what the second formula means?
 
That is the acceleration of a body at height "h" about the surface of the Earth,due to Earths gravity...I'm sure it's not the first time u saw it...

Daniel.
 
what is \bar{R}_{E} ?
 
The Average Radius of the Earth...??You know the one which you can compute,if you know the polar & equatorial radius and a bit of geometry.

Daniel.
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

JEE solution wrong? (tempco of a clock)
Replies
14
Views
1K
Looking for observed rotation periods of various Foucault pendulums at different latitudes
Replies
6
Views
809
The period of a simple pendulum
Replies
20
Views
2K
Oscillatory motion problem: Bicycle wheel rotation oscillation
Replies
17
Views
892
Seeking advice on "simple" pendulum problem
Replies
27
Views
2K
Final Project (Matura Project) About The Wave Pendulum
Replies
2
Views
976
Can Geiger Counter Ticks be converted into particle/wave counts?
Replies
12
Views
2K
Period of a Pendulum on the Moon
Replies
7
Views
4K
Foucault Pendulum at the North Pole
Replies
9
Views
2K
How can air density be accurately calculated at different altitudes?
Replies
8
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top