Question

A student on a new planet wants to determine the value of gravity on that planet. Luckily for them they brought equipment that they can use to set up an oscillating spring or an oscillating pendulum. Which procedure would allow the student to determine the value of gravity on the new planet

Answer 1

By measure the effective length and the time period of the pendulum.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the student take the oscillating pendulum at the planet.

He measure the time period of the pendulum by using the stop watch or the ordinary watch.

Then measure the effective length of the pendulum which is the distance between the center of gravity of the bob and the point of suspension of the pendulum.

Now, use the formula of the time period of the pendulum,

`T =2\pi\sqrt(L)/(g)`

Here, L is the effective length of the pendulum, g is the acceleration due to gravity at the planet and T is time period of the pendulum.

By rearranging the terms, we get

`T =2\pi\sqrt(L)/(g)\\\\T^(2)=4\pi^2*(L)/(g)\\\\g =(4\pi^2L)/(T^2)`

Here, by substituting the values of L and T, the student get the value of acceleration due to gravity at that planet.