User guide

3B SCIENTIFIC

PHYSICS

Variable-g Pendulum U8403950

Instruction Sheet

05/09 THL

1 Pendulum bob

2 Pendulum rod

3 Disc with scale

4 Pointer

5 Pendulum clamp

6 Knurled screw (rear of disc with

scale)

1. Safety instructions

When used correctly the instrument should not

present any risks.

The instrument requires a good degree of stability

as there is a danger of it tipping over.

• Set the instrument up securely in the stand

base so that there is no risk of tipping over.

2. Description

The instrument is used to measure the period of a

pendulum as a function of the length of the

pendulum and the effective component of the

earth’s gravitational field (“acceleration due to

gravity”).

It can be used, for example, to simulate the effects

on the period of the pendulum that would be

observed on the surfaces of planets or other bodies

of lower mass than Earth, such as the moon or

Mars.

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3B SCIENTIFIC® PHYSICS Variable-g Pendulum U8403950 Instruction Sheet 05/09 THL 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pendulum bob Pendulum rod Disc with scale Pointer Pendulum clamp Knurled screw (rear of disc with scale) 1. Safety instructions 2. Description When used correctly the instrument should not present any risks. The instrument requires a good degree of stability as there is a danger of it tipping over. • Set the instrument up securely in the stand base so that there is no risk of tipping over.
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The effective gravitational field influencing the periodic motion is reduced according to the inclination of the plane of the pendulum relative to the vertical. The axis of rotation lies along the pointer, the inclination of which can be varied between 0° und 90°. The mass of the pendulum rod is small compared to that of the pendulum bob (the discs), and therefore the arrangement approximates closely to an ideal mathematical pendulum, so that it is described by the relationship: T = 2⋅π⋅ l .