Determining g from harmonic frequency and a pendulum

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the acceleration due to gravity (g) using harmonic frequency and pendulum motion. The original poster describes an experimental setup involving a vibrating wire and a pendulum, with specific measurements and calculations leading to an unexpected value for g.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations related to the vibrating wire's harmonic frequency and the pendulum's oscillation period. There are questions about the assumptions made regarding the length of the pendulum and the center of mass of the system. Some participants suggest that the mass of the wire may need to be considered in the calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem and questioning the assumptions made in the calculations. There is no explicit consensus, but some guidance has been offered regarding the treatment of the pendulum length and the center of mass.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the length of the pendulum and the mass distribution of the wire have not been clearly defined, which may affect the calculations. There is also a mention of a potential error in calculating the period of the pendulum.

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Homework Statement


As the captain of the scientific team sent to Planet Physics, one of your tasks is to measure g. You have a long, thin wire labeled 1.83g/m and a 1.21 kg weight. You have your accurate space cadet chronometer but, unfortunately, you seem to have forgotten a meter stick. Undeterred, you first find the midpoint of the wire by folding it in half. You then attach one end of the wire to the wall of your laboratory, stretch it horizontally to pass over a pulley at the midpoint of the wire, then tie the 1.21 kg weight to the end hanging over the pulley. By vibrating the wire, and measuring time with your chronometer, you find that the wire's second harmonic frequency is 200Hz . Next, with the 1.21 kg weight still tied to one end of the wire, you attach the other end to the ceiling to make a pendulum. You find that the pendulum requires 313 s to complete 100 oscillations. Pulling out your trusty calculator, you get to work.

What value of g will you report back to headquarters?

Homework Equations


F(1) = 1/2L * √(Tension/linear density)
Tension = 2*\pi * √(L/g)


The Attempt at a Solution


First I drew a picture of the vibrating wire and labeled each half of the wire d.

So, since F(2) = 2F(1):

F(1)= 100Hz = 1/2d * √(1.21g/.00183)

Using this I solved for g:

g = 60.50d^2


Then I moved on to the pendulum portion, calling 2d the length of the wire that the mass hangs from:

Period = oscillations/time = 100/313s = .3195

Period = 2*\pi√(L/g), so:

.3195 = 2*\pi√(2d/g)

Solving for d:

d = .001293g


Then I combined equations to solve for g:

60.50(1.0111*10^-4g)^2 = g

g(1.0111*10^-4 - 1) = 0

g = 0, 9889.97


0 is an unreasonable answer, so I am left with 9889.97m/s^2, which is also pretty unreasonable (and incorrect).

What am I doing wrong here?
 
Last edited:
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I've repeated this result a few times... leading me to believe that possibly my pendulum calculation is incorrect because the mass of the wire has not been taken into account.

The length L for the pendulum is the length to the center of mass, perhaps that length isn't 2d? Is there another equation that might help me solve this?
 
Do you know anything about the length of the pendulum? If so, why not calculate the position of the center of mass of the wire + 1.21 kg weight system and treat the problem as a simple, with massless wire, pendulum problem?
 
Last edited:
Werg22 said:
Do you know anything about the length of the pendulum? If so, why not calculate the position of the center of mass of the wire + 1.21 kg weight system and treat the problem as a simple, with massless wire, pendulum problem?

Nothing was given about the pendulum length. I actually did the problem correctly except that I used 100/313 to find the period when I should have used 313/100.

The correct answer was g = 1.07m/s^2
 

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